Tallygaroopna product Steele Sidebottom and Euroa contemporary Jamie Elliott have plied their trade at Collingwood their entire careers, and the clash against West Coast at the weekend was the 200th time they had done so as teammates.
Their on-field association began in Adelaide in round nine, 2012, with Euroa export Elliott joining Tallygaroopna product Sidebottom at the Pies three years after he first pulled on the boots.
Sixteen years later, the boys from the Goulburn Valley crossed another milestone off the list in the 10-point win over the Eagles, Sidebottom collecting 16 disposals and Elliott conjuring a crucial three goals.
But by the final siren, there were fears it may be the last time they compete alongside each other.
Leaping for a mark in the fourth quarter, Elliott landed awkwardly and immediately clutched his left knee, carried off the field with scans confirming the Pies forward had ruptured his ACL and that his season is done.
“Scans this morning confirmed that he has ruptured his ACL and has also sustained some bone bruising in the knee,” executive general manager Charlie Gardiner said.
"Jamie has endured a number of significant injury setbacks across his career, and for him to face this latest setback is unfortunate for him and his family and for us as a club.
“He's a much loved and respected leader at our club and we're all feeling for him.
"We will miss his on-field presence this year, but he will no doubt continue to play an important role across the club during his recovery."
At Marvel Stadium, Mooroopna export Jy Simpkin played a key role in North Melbourne’s stunning upset of Gold Coast.
Simpkin’s 29-disposal, nine-mark effort helped the Roos claim one of their best wins in years, turning a 43-point deficit into a one-goal win after the siren.
The result keeps North right in the mix for a finals position, currently 13th and only half a game outside wildcard calculations.
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