Scott Pendlebury has had more time, class and composure on the field than most since being drafted to Collingwood with pick No 5 in 2005. He is a master of operating in the tightest of spaces with unrivalled ease amid the chaos. Now, as Pendlebury prepares to break the record for the most VFL/AFL games played in his 433rd match, the 38-year-old will also claim another small victory over every player’s biggest enemy – Father Time.
A career that has lasted almost 20 years since his debut is the fifth-longest in the VFL/AFL, and makes it hard to remember all of Pendlebury’s standout performances, let alone the many accolades. As he prepares to claim a slice history with a gold No 10 on his back, here are six glittering moments that have set the Magpies maestro apart.
2006 – First kick, first goal
Pendlebury gave a hint of what was to come when he gathered the ball across half-back 17 minutes into his debut. As Brisbane key forward Daniel Bradshaw closed in, the Magpies’ new No 16 calmly dished off a handball for teammate Ryan Lonie to launch a counterattack. It was the first of Pendlebury’s record 5,491 handballs so far. But the best was still to come for the first-gamer in the second term.
Finding space in the forward 50 in much the same way that would become a trademark, Pendlebury got on to the end of a pinpoint pass from Nathan Buckley. The 18-year-old casually slotted the kick off his left boot to join the illustrious “first kick, first goal” club, while commentators could not resist following it with what was perhaps the first mention of his basketball background.
2007 – Finals series breakout
After a debut season interrupted by glandular fever, Pendlebury became a key cog in the Magpies machine the following year as he played 23 matches. Now wearing what would become the signature No 10, there were early signs that he was made for the big occasions in his first final – a knockout game against a Sydney team that had played in the past two grand finals. Pendlebury gathered career highs of 24 disposals and six clearances, as well as kicking a goal as the Pies marched on.
Next up for were the reigning premiers West Coast on their home turf at Subiaco. The two sides played out a classic and could not be separated at the final siren. The Pies all but dominated extra-time before Pendlebury coolly kicked the sealer in a memorable victory. The 19-year-old improved on his personal bests with 26 disposals and seven clearances. These back-to-back finals performances proved the Magpies young gun had truly arrived.
2010 – Starring role on grand stage
Pendlebury had cemented his standing as a big game performer and leading midfielders in the AFL as Collingwood blew away reigning premiers Geelong to reach the 2010 grand final. But he was relatively quiet as the Magpies drew with the Saints in the decider, and it was later revealed he lost six kilograms due to a stomach bug in the lead-up.
The Magpies were lucky against the Saints first time around against but would not make the same mistakes again, as they raced away to an early lead in the replay with Pendlebury pulling the strings. The final margin of 56 points remains the biggest in Collingwood’s 16 premierships, while the 22-year-old was awarded the Norm Smith medal for putting on a show with 29 disposals, 11 tackles and six clearances.
2011 – Anzac Day display for the ages
Pendlebury holds the record for the most Anzac Day medals with four after being awarded his first in 2010. That year, his 29 disposals, five clearances and a goal were full of class in the win over the Bombers, but the 23-year-old would outdo himself in the blockbuster the following year.
In one of his most memorable performances, the dreadlocked Pendlebury won a second consecutive Anzac Day medal as he shone bright in all areas of the game. He gathered 34 disposals and eight clearances, and booted a goal from each pocket to set the tone for the game. After the Pies eased away, Pendlebury added a then career-high third goal from a set shot after the final siren.
2023 – Hand of Scott
Pendlebury and his typically cool head under pressure were pivotal to Collingwood keeping pace with Brisbane during one of the most thrilling grand finals in recent memory. The 35-year-old had been floating retirement talk before turning back the clock with another polished performance as he gathered 24 disposals, six clearances and kicked a goal.
But it was Pendlebury’s role in a match-defining play that etched his name in Magpies folklore yet again. After the Lions snatched the lead with less than five minutes left, he took matters into his own hands and joined Nick Daicos and Jordan de Goey at the next centre bounce. A quick handpass from Daicos was enough to give Pendlebury room to launch a left-foot bomb into the forward 50 where De Goey picked up the crumbs for the Pies’ immediate response. The Pies held on and Pendlebury had a second premiership 13 years after claiming his first.
2026 – Rubber stamp on legacy
Anzac Day matches have been significant occasions for Pendlebury, including the 2024 clash when he became the first player in VFL/AFL history to reach 10,000 career disposals. But in his 431st game in 2026 he stepped back in time with a new career-high 43 disposals to earn the best-on-ground medal for a record fourth time.
The Bombers were threatening to cause a boilover early in the third term before Pendlebury stepped around a pair of opponents and pulled the Pies further clear with a silky finish. He kicked his second goal – and his side’s last of the day – in the dying stages to cap off a stellar performance that also included 10 marks, four clearances and 19 score involvements to rubber stamp his Anzac Day legacy.
