- Unfolded on Channel Nine show Players this week
- Involved AFL stars Steele Sidebottom and Rory Lobb
AFL stars Steele Sidebottom and Rory Lobb were recently asked to text their respective coaches on the spot with a request that should have set off alarm bells – and the responses spoke volumes about the two club bosses.
As part of a prank on Channel Nine’s show Players, Collingwood veteran Sidebottom and Western Bulldogs utility Lobb messaged Craig McRae and Luke Beveridge to see if they could borrow their cars for three days with zero explanation.
Both were unsure what the response would be, and Lobb was visibly shocked that Beveridge – who has a reputation as a hard taskmaster – was so accommodating.
‘Of course Lobby,’ was Beveridge’s simple reply, which came with a laughing emoji.
Lobb took the emoji to mean his coach might have thought the text wasn’t 100 per cent on the level.
‘He said he was about to drive it over to me. Feel like he knows I’m a bit of a larrikin,’ Lobb said.
AFL stars Steele Sidebottom and Rory Lobb (pictured with partner Lexi Mary) were recently asked to text their respective coaches with a left-field request – and the responses were nothing short of astounding
As part of a prank on Channel Nine’s show Players, Steele Sidebottom (pictured with wife Alisha) and Lobb messaged Craig McRae and Luke Beveridge to see if they could borrow their cars for three days with zero explanation why
‘I think he knew that I was taking the p**s because I do that a little bit.’
McRae’s detailed reply to Sidebottom summed up his caring nature.
‘Are you OK? Of course mate, you can have it as long as you need,’ he began.
‘I’ve got a guy at Ringwood Mazda (car dealership) who can get you a car if you need one longer.
‘Let me know where you want me to drop it (off). Please no burnouts, I’ve seen you drive. Hope everything is OK.’
In April, Lobb sported the AFL’s worst haircut – an eye-catching electric-blue dye job – ahead of the 100-year anniversary clash against Collingwood at the MCG.
The towering footy star then made that bizarre look tame in comparison by revealing a bright-red lobster dyed on his newly bleached locks.
It comes as Sidebottom, 34, continues to palm away father time.
Craig McRae’s detailed reply to Sidebottom (pictured, above) summed up his caring nature
Notoriously feisty Dogs boss Beveridge (pictured) offered to drive his car over to Lobb – but the Dogs star thought he might’ve seen through the ruse
He is edging towards 350 career games and has been a standout for the ladder- leading Magpies all year.
Meanwhile, McRae showed his emotional side last month in an interview following the sudden passing of Adam Selwood.
‘There’s no book written on this stuff. We got the news and it was horrible,’ McRae said as he fought back tears in a press conference after a win over Adelaide.
‘We didn’t really know what to do to be honest, other than maybe give it space to see where it fits with all of us.
‘It’s horrible, there is such sadness….’I just want to send my love to the (entire) Selwood family.’
The devastating news followed Selwood’s identical twin and fellow former AFL player Troy Selwood dying in February.
