SCOTT Pendlebury is poised to break three monumental records in as many weeks in what promises to be an extended mid-season celebration of the Collingwood champion's decorated career.
In one of the most anticipated milestones of the 2020 season, Pendlebury will claim the Magpies' games record from 1990 premiership captain Tony Shaw (313) in the round 14 clash with Sydney at the SCG, presuming his renowned durability continues.
That same night against the Swans the evergreen veteran is also scheduled to claim the club record for most games as captain or acting captain from his coach Nathan Buckley (161).
Less known is that before Pendlebury collects that revered club double, he'll break another colossal record. When the 32-year-old leads his team against West Coast at the MCG in round 11, he will have played more games on the hallowed turf than anyone in League history.
Pendlebury has played 195 games at the MCG, behind only Richmond legend Kevin Bartlett, who made exactly 200 appearances at the home of football.
The Magpie marvel is set to equal Bartlett's record against Carlton in round nine before moving into uncharted territory when the Pies confront the Eagles in what looms as a blockbuster.
HISTORY REWRITTEN The remarkable story of the Grand Final goal that wasn't
Pendlebury has enjoyed many special moments at the MCG, including:
- Kicking his first goal with his first kick on debut against Brisbane in round 10, 2006, after being on the end of a pinpoint across-the-body pass by then veteran skipper Buckley. Pendlebury, 18 at the time, had 11 possessions, eight of them contested, in a 26-point win.
- Piloting Collingwood to the 2010 premiership by winning the Norm Smith Medal after being adjudged best afield against St Kilda in the Grand Final replay, after performing below expectations in the previous week's drawn game as he battled a stomach bug.
- Winning Anzac Day Medals in 2010, 2011 and last year, the pick of them probably being the 2011 effort when he shredded Essendon with 34 possessions, eight clearances, eight tackles and three goals in a runaway 30-point victory.
However, it hasn't all been kicks and giggles at the MCG, which has also been the scene of heartbreak for Pendlebury, who has been part of Pies teams that have lost Grand Finals in 2011 (by 38 points to Geelong) and 2018 (by five points to West Coast), lost preliminary finals in 2007 (by five points to eventual premier Geelong) and last year (by four points to Greater Western Sydney), along with a shock defeat in their 2013 elimination final (by 24 points to Port Adelaide).
The drawn Grand Final of 2010 was also a source of frustration, while Pendlebury's 2009 finals series ended with a broken leg early in the qualifying final loss to St Kilda.
Pendlebury mightn't stop at three records this year. If the ultra-professional continues to defy his birth certificate he might well put himself in contention to snare a sixth best and fairest, which would draw him level with Buckley's club record.
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It's certainly not beyond the Pies great, given that last year he was selected in the All-Australian team for the sixth time, finished runner-up in Collingwood's best and fairest (it was his 11th top-three placing, a competition-high and equal-fourth in history) and broke club records for both career disposals and career votes in the Brownlow Medal.
If he had his way, the humble, never-content Pendlebury would sidestep the cameras and the limelight and focus solely on his team, just as he admirably tried to do last year when he reached his 300th game in Collingwood's first final. But not even his extraordinary evasive skills will help him escape the accolades that will deservingly flow his way again this season.
A crucial goal in game 300.
— AFL (@AFL) September 6, 2019
Scott Pendlebury, all class. 👏#AFLFinals pic.twitter.com/pTFgPHoKhp
Gms |
Player |
Span |
W-L-D |
Win % |
Finals |
GFs |
Prem |
Ave. disp. |
Ave. kicks |
Ave. hb |
Gls |
Career gms |
200 |
Kevin Bartlett (Rich) |
1965-83 |
138-60-2 |
69 |
18 |
7 |
5 |
23 |
21 |
2 |
379 |
403 |
195* |
Scott Pendlebury (Coll) |
2006– |
117-76-2 |
60 |
19 |
4 |
1 |
26 |
13 |
13 |
119 |
301 |
186 |
Dustin Fletcher (Ess) |
1993-2015 |
118-64-4 |
63 |
17 |
3 |
2 |
14 |
11 |
3 |
42 |
400 |
169 |
David Neitz (Melb) |
1993-2008 |
87-82-0 |
51 |
11 |
1 |
0 |
11 |
8 |
3 |
386 |
306 |
165* |
Nathan Jones (Melb) |
2006– |
60-103-2 |
36 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
23 |
12 |
11 |
77 |
286 |
313 |
Tony Shaw |
1978-94 |
306 |
Gordon Coventry |
1920-37 |
301* |
Scott Pendlebury |
2006– |
277 |
Wayne Richardson |
1966-78 |
268 |
Len Thompson |
1965-78 |
264 |
Scott Burns |
1995-2008 |
261 |
Jock McHale |
1903-18; 1920 |
260 |
Nathan Buckley |
1994-2007 |
258 |
Dane Swan |
2003-16 |
161 |
Nathan Buckley |
1998-2007 |
153 |
Syd Coventry |
1925-34 |
149* |
Scott Pendlebury |
2014– |
123 |
Tony Shaw |
1987-93 |
116 |
Wayne Richardson |
1970-75 |
105 |
Phonse Kyne |
1938-50 |
104 |
Nick Maxwell |
2007-13 |