Scott Pendlebury, the Collingwood veteran, prepares to break the VFL/AFL games record in his 433rd match on Saturday. The 38-year-old has been a model of consistency and class since being drafted with pick No. 5 in 2005, known for his ability to operate in tight spaces with unrivalled ease.
His debut in 2006 hinted at his future greatness, gathering the ball across half-back and dishing off a handball, the first of his record 5,491 handballs. He later kicked a goal off his left boot, joining the 'first kick, first goal' club. The following year, Pendlebury became a key cog in the Magpies machine, and in his first final against Sydney, he gathered career highs of 24 disposals and six clearances, plus a goal.
In the 2007 finals, Pendlebury impressed against reigning premiers West Coast, with 26 disposals and seven clearances, including the sealer in extra-time. His big-game reputation grew, culminating in the 2010 grand final replay where he won the Norm Smith Medal with 29 disposals, 11 tackles, and six clearances as Collingwood defeated St Kilda by 56 points.
Pendlebury also holds the record for most Anzac Day medals (four), with standout performances in 2010 and 2011. In the 2023 grand final, despite retirement talk, he gathered 24 disposals, six clearances, and a goal, playing a pivotal role in a match-defining play that helped secure Collingwood's premiership.
