MAGPIES' midfielder Steele Sidebottom ended the opening game of the season with mixed emotions.
As strong as he'd ever been leading into a season, he was best on ground in the Magpies' win against the Brisbane Lions.
The performance was a reminder that Sidebottom was a quality player increasingly capable of dominating a game and, importantly, leading the team to victory.
But he knew the satisfaction was short lived.
His thumb had been fractured when he tackled Lions ruckman Matthew Leuenberger and he faced six weeks on the sidelines.
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Although Sidebottom understood the hiccup was minor relative to other players, some who seem to have constant battles with injury, he found the time away frustrating.
"I don't know how 'Caff' [Brent Macaffer has been in rehab with a knee injury for 12 months] and those guys do it, being out for so long. It's almost like you don't feel a part of it," Sidebottom told AFL.com.au.
By the time he returned against Gold Coast in round eight, the Magpies were travelling relatively well with four wins and three losses.
But Sidebottom immediately made an impact.
His presence allowed skipper Scott Pendlebury to push forward and kick four goals, and also provide the midfield some relief.
But his absence had created an opportunity too, with Adam Oxley taking over Sidebottom's role on the wing and cementing a spot in the team.
Such evolution is what keeps the seemingly permanent smile on Sidebottom's face these days.
He is a leader at the football club and, in his seventh season, beginning to come out of his shell more and more.
The 24-year-old admits he wasn’t too keen to stand in front of everyone and say his piece early on, but has worked on his leadership in the past two years.
"I'm getting more and more comfortable in putting my thoughts out there and having an opinion," Sidebottom said.
He's entitled to an opinion more than most.
He was a premiership player in just his second year at Collingwood, and has been placed in the club best and fairest in both of the past two seasons. He is also renowned as a big occasion player.
But he knows constant improvement is necessary.
He has identified his ability inside the contest as an area to improve (although about 33 per cent of his possessions are contested).
And he hopes to get stronger again in the next few pre-seasons to hold his line better when contesting the ball.
As for the team – very much his focus these days - he thinks they're heading in the right direction.
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Eight wins to date has hardly surprised Sidebottom and he recognises the quality of the young talent around him, but it's too early to determine whether it is a flag winning list just yet.
"[We're] definitely not putting a ceiling on anything. Our best footy can match it with anyone but we have not looked that far ahead [to a premiership]," Sidebottom said.
"If we can continue to improve every week…"
That's a cliché but it's also a fervent hope.
The Magpies have a sense they're starting to roll, and Friday night's game against Hawthorn is another big test.
"I rate me them very highly," Sidebottom said of the reigning premiers.
Improvement is something he has managed in each of his six completed seasons, yet he remains in the shadows when external pundits shine a light on the game's best.
He should be included - he's good enough.
