COLLINGWOOD star Scott Pendlebury is likely to finish the year at No.2 in the Official AFL Player Ratings, brought to you by Vero, if his hot streak of form continues in the finals.

The 25-year-old midfielder gathered 33 disposals and kicked two goals in the Magpies' loss to North Melbourne last weekend.

The effort equated to 31.9 player ratings points, which was the highest score recorded in round 23.


A similar performance in Saturday night's elimination final against Port Adelaide at the MCG would move him within striking distance of the current No.2, Adelaide gun Patrick Dangerfield, whose season is over.

Pendlebury's standing on the player ratings table has fluctuated markedly during 2013.

He was second prior to round one but fell to seventh by round 10. He stayed in seventh place for five weeks before his form picked up and he began climbing back towards the top.

Pendlebury's dominant outing against the Kangaroos saw him jump from fifth to third. In the process, he leapfrogged Essendon skipper Jobe Watson and Geelong captain Joel Selwood, who is also a chance to finish the season at No.2.

The Collingwood vice-captain earned the second-most player ratings points during this year's home and away rounds. His tally of 403.2 points was eclipsed by Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett, who finished with 421.8.

When it comes to this weekend's finals matches, much has been made of Fremantle's miserly defence and the way it will look to shut down Geelong on Saturday at Simonds Stadium.

But when it comes to the player ratings, the Cats actually have two of the highest scoring defenders, All Australian nominees Harry Taylor and Corey Enright.

Taylor, who has jumped from 73rd place to 47th on the player ratings table this so far this season, has scored more points than any other defender. His points total for the year is 289.4.

Enright has scored 272.8, which is the fourth-best tally for a defender.

Fremantle's Michael Johnson, who has been ruled out of Saturday's game due to a calf problem, has scored the fifth-most points (271.7) of all defenders.