[4] In 1980, Sidebottom, while playing for St Kilda in a match against Hawthorn at Moorabbin was dazed when he was hit across his right eye by a flying beer can.
[5] Despite captaining St Kilda in 1980, his contract was not renewed at the end of the season[6] and he left the club to join Geelong in 1981.
Sidebottom entered football folklore when he missed the Geelong team bus to play in the 1981 Preliminary Final against Collingwood due to a breakdown in communications.
[7][8] To this day, many Geelong locals call the place where the road from Lara enters the Princes Highway "Sidey's Corner".
[9] Despite suggestions that he may return to play for Swan Districts in the WAFL, he remained in Victoria and signed for Fitzroy, making his debut in July 1982.