COLLINGWOOD president Eddie McGuire has confidently declared Scott Pendlebury will resist approaches from Greater Western Sydney and remain a Magpie for life.
Having signed only a 12-month contract extension with Collingwood in May, Pendlebury has said he is prepared for a year of speculation over his future similar to what Tom Scully faced before he joined GWS.
There is speculation Pendlebury could join the Giants in 2013, which has led to a war of words between McGuire and GWS coach Kevin Sheedy.
McGuire vowed to "go feral" and chase every player on the Giants' list if Pendlebury heads to Sydney, with Sheedy responding with criticism over McGuire's presidency of Collingwood.
The two had a civil get together at a GWS function in Sydney on Wednesday, when McGuire said Sheedy's old club Essendon should be more concerned about what the Giants are up to.
Bombers youngster Michael Hurley has regularly come up as a possible GWS target, among other Essendon players.
And McGuire is confident he can convince Pendlebury to stay a Magpie.
"I believe that his old club Essendon should be a bit more worried that there's blokes down at Windy Hill that they're after," McGuire said.
"That's what I hear.
"Scott Pendlebury is the vice-captain of the Collingwood Football Club, he's a loyal Collingwood man, so I'm very confident that Scott will be a Collingwood man until the end of his career.
"Having said that, it is all fair in love and war and if Kev goes after our guys, I'll be returning it with interest.
"That's the way it is."
Sheedy was unusually subdued at the joint press conference and didn't talk specifically about Pendlebury.
He was asked about the NAB AFL Draft, to be held on Thursday night in Sydney and where the Giants will have 11 of the first 14 picks.
Sheedy was coy about their plans, but confident of bringing the right people to the club.
"Our staff have done really well," Sheedy said.
"They've followed these players for probably two to three years.
"'SOS' (GWS recruitment manager Steve Silvagni) in particular has it all under control."
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou also spoke at a separate media conference on Wednesday after touring the Giants' new home ground at Sydney Olympic Park.
Demetriou is confident the Giants will perform well at the draft, although he conceded it is far from a "pure science".
"It's great the draft being here in Sydney tomorrow," Demetriou said.
"You'll see lots of media coming, lots of parents, lots of young lads who are basically living their dream.
"What you'll see is the GWS Giants, having meticulously analysed all the talent, have their fingers crossed that they pick the right lads, because it's not pure science.
"You can get picks wrong.
"But they have some very experienced people picking the players and once they have all their picks, the other clubs will then pick through the draft."
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the AFL or the clubs
