EVER-PRESENT Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury might have lined up in round one with a sore Achilles tendon but it didn't stop him from posting his best-ever statistical game.

Pendlebury, who hasn't played fewer than 21 games in a year since his first season, posted a career-high Schick AFL Player Ratings score as he enters his 12th campaign. 

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After the game, Magpies coach Nathan Buckley lamented his side's disposal into attack as a reason his side fell to the premiers by 14 points, but the man awarded the Rose-Sutton Medal for best afield couldn't be accused of butchering the ball. 

He racked up 35 disposals against the Dogs and kicked it at 81 per cent efficiency. While his silky smooth left foot and excellent decision-making are often lauded, Pendlebury's ball-winning was superb. 

The 24 contested possessions he won was not only the highest of his career, but was equal-19th on the list of all players in that stat since 1999. His 10 clearances were nothing to sneeze at either. 

Nitpickers might point out the Magpie doesn't hit the scoreboard as often as superstars Patrick Dangerfield and Gary Ablett, but the two goals he booted in the last quarter gave his side a sniff at victory. 

Pendlebury's previous career-best match came against Sydney in round two, 2014. The Pies were smashed by 70 points the previous week by Fremantle and the five-time best and fairest responded to help his side beat the eventual Grand Finalists on the road.

Scott Pendlebury's top five games

In other Player Ratings news, a top-notch performance from reigning Essendon club champion Zach Merrett lifted him to No.29. He and Western Bulldogs maestro Marcus Bontempelli are the only players younger than 22 in the top 50. 

Norm Smith medallist Jason Johannisen snuck into the top 100 for the first time in his career, placed at No.99.