Scott Pendlebury, a multiple champion player for Collingwood, has announced that he will continue to play in 2025 after reaching a settlement with the team.
The extension will see Pendlebury head into a 20th season with the club that drafted him with Pick 5 in 2005 out of Sale in regional Victoria.
The 2010 Norm Smith Medal winner was set to come out of contract at the end of this year, with the 36-year-old weighing up whether to extend his stay in the black and white for at least another 12 months.
That decision has reached a conclusion, with Pendlebury and Collingwood putting the finishing touches on a new deal for 2025.
“I’ve got a contract for next year,” Pendlebury confirmed to SEN on Monday.
“It’s all done. I think there’s a few finer details but it’s all locked away. I’m looking forward to playing next year.”
The extension will see Pendlebury, who will play game 400 this weekend against Carlton, come close to the all-time games record of 432 matches – held by North Melbourne legend Brent Harvey.
Should he play out the entire home and away season and miss finals, Pendlebury will end 2024 with 403 games to his name, therefore requiring another contract to at least level Harvey.
A full 2025 season would have Pendlebury move into second ahead of Hawthorn champion Michael Tuck on the all-time list while also surpassing fellow 400-gamers Dustin Fletcher, Kevin Bartlett and Shaun Burgoyne in the process.
The potential journey to No.1 overall is more than feasible for Pendlebury, however the Magpies veteran will always put his club’s desires ahead of his own.
“It’ll depend on my form and how the team is going,” Pendlebury said of breaking the record.
“‘Fly’ (Craig McRae) has been really good with me and the conversations we have are ongoing about where he sees me and where I see myself and also planning for the future. I’m probably on the back three of the golf course.
“If I do happen to get [the all-time games record], it’ll be because the football club and me think it’s the best thing to do. It’s not one where I’ll put myself ahead of the club and try and get there for my own personal goals.”
Pendlebury is averaging 20.75 disposals per game from his 16 appearances in 2024, making it 17 straight seasons of averaging 20 or more touches.
The midfielder already has the most disposals on record in the top flight with 10,219 and also ranks first ever for handbells and tackles with 5,103 and 1,880 respectively.
Pendlebury will level Fletcher’s games tally of 400 matches this weekend at the MCG when Collingwood host Carlton in Round 21.
