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FIFA World Cup 2026 posterTop 10 games: Revisiting the very best of Pendles
Luke Mathews • May 23rd, 2026 12:30 pm
Across 134 years of history, there are many who claim that Scott Pendlebury is the greatest ever player to pull on the famous black-and-white jumper.
Orginally from Sale and drafted to Collingwood with the fifth selection at the 2005 national draft from Sale, the midfielder has continued to raise the bar with what is possible to achieve in the modern game.
While there might have been more dominant players during his 21-year career, it is hard to find someone that has been more consistent.
Over his soon-to-be record-breaking 433-game career, there have been countless memorable moments that spring to mind.
Here are 10 of the best.
1 - 2011 Anzac Day vs Essendon
34 disposals, 3 goals
There haven’t been many players that have performed better on Anzac Day then Scott Pendlebury.
Rocking the dreadlocks Pendlebury had no trouble finding the footy, finishing with 34 disposals and became just the second player to win back-to-back Anzac Day medals.
Rocking the dreadlocks Pendlebury had no trouble finding the footy, finishing with 34 disposals and became just the second player to win back-to-back Anzac Day medals.
His highlight for the day was shrugging off Brent Stanton and snapping through his first of three goals from the boundary.
He used his non-preferred right foot to kick his second from the tightest of angles before sealing the five-goal victory with an intercept mark and goal after the full-time siren.
2011 was one of his most complete season beating Dane Swan in his Brownlow Medal year to win his first of five Copeland trophies.
2011 was one of his most complete season beating Dane Swan in his Brownlow Medal year to win his first of five Copeland trophies.
2 - 2013 Round 16 vs Adelaide
42 disposals, 2 goals
After finishing inside the top four every season since 2008, the Pies were in need of a win just to solidify their spot inside the top eight.
Collingwood couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start, trailing by 25 points at quarter time before the champion took matters into his own hand.
Pendlebury would rack up 42 disposals and along with Dane Swan and Luke Ball, they willed their side back into the match.
With the game still in the balance late in the last quarter, the No.10 found the ball 50 metres out from goal and characteristically steadied himself and drilled the match winning goal.
The performance helped stake his claim as one of the best players in the game, polling 10 coaches votes on the way to winning the award ahead of Gary Ablett.
3 - 2012 Round 8 vs Geelong
30 disposals, 4 goals
Across Pendlebury’s 21-year career, there hasn’t been a fiercer rival than Geelong. The Pies would lose just three games in 2011, all of which came against the Cats including a heartbreaking Grand Final.
In search of redemption the following season, the midfielder delivered in emphatic fashion, kicking a career-high four goals in a season defining victory.
The left-footer found the ball on the wing and took two bounces before booting his second goal from 50 metres out, up against the boundary line.
Collingwood was ahead by a goal with just over a minute to play when Pendlebury found time and space from a centre bounce and kicked a match winning goal from inside the centre square.
4 - 2026 Anzac Day vs Essendon
43 disposals, 19 score involvements
A vintage performance on a special day with his record-breaking game fast approaching.
Entering his 21st season, the 38-year-old’s role was different, and he wasn’t racking up the same disposal numbers due to extended periods of time on the bench.
Entering his 21st season, the 38-year-old’s role was different, and he wasn’t racking up the same disposal numbers due to extended periods of time on the bench.
That all changed in his 19th Anzac Day clash when he tore the Bombers apart once again and amassed 43 touches, the most in his career.
After a tight first half, Pendlebury steadied the ship early in the third quarter with another classy sidestep and goal on the run.
With the game sealed and the celebrations flowing in the final term, the champion was awarded a free kick and goaled at the top of the goal square which was the icing on the cake.
Several records were broken including becoming the first player to win four Anzac Day medals, the oldest player in League history to record more than 40 touches in a game and the most score involvements by a Collingwood player.
5 - 2010 Grand Final Replay vs St Kilda
29 disposals, 11 tackles
Not many players have a CV like Pendlebury, however one award stands out above the rest.
After suffering from gastro on the morning of the drawn Grand Final, the 22-year-old had a quiet day, finishing with just 19 disposals, his second lowest tally for the season.
Desperate to make amends in the replay, the superstar did just that, collecting 29 disposals and 11 tackles.
Late in the third quarter, Pendlebury was all alone on the wing and a long sweeping kick inside 50 found an unmarked Sidebottom in front of goal which just about sealed Collingwood’s 15th premiership.
He would go on to just pip Sidebottom for the Norm Smith Medal and became just the third Magpie to win the award behind Tony Shaw and Nathan Buckley.
6 - 2019 Anzac Day vs Essendon
38 disposals, 16 contested possessions
Pendlebury claimed his third Anzac Day medal at 31 years of age in a tense clash.
The big occasion always brings the best out of both sides and the skipper’s poise proved to be the difference in a tight contest.
He had 25 kicks and 38 disposals all up, including a perfectly weighted pass to Mason Cox, which resulted in the Pies’ fifth goal for the match.
The game is remembered for Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley saying, “shame on anyone who booed a champion” after Essendon supporters made their feelings known when Pendlebury received the medal.
He polled 10 coaches votes for the best on ground performance and has polled coaches 122 votes against the Bombers.
7 - 2007 Semi Final vs West Coast
26 disposals, 7 clearances
A coming-of-age performance, on the big stage and when his team desperately needed it.
The Pies headed to Perth as underdogs to take on the reigning premiers, who were missing superstars Ben Cousins and Chris Judd.
Collingwood had 13 players that had played less then 100 games and nine players from that side would play in the 2010 premiership.
The teams couldn’t be separated across four quarters, and the match went into extra time where the 19-year-old would make a name for himself.
With Collingwood ahead by six points with a minute to play in extra time, Pendlebury found space, gathered the ball inside 50 and kicked the match winning goal.
The midfielder would finish the game with 26 disposals and one goal and together with Dane Swan and Dale Thomas they started a lethal trio that would terrorise the competition for the next five years.
8 - 2017 Round 9 vs Hawthorn
36 disposals, 3 goal assists
2017 was one of the most difficult years across Pendlebury’s illustrious career. The team was under the pump after a 2-6 start to the year and the pressure was rising on uncontracted coach Nathan Buckley.
The Pies couldn’t have had a worse start against Hawthorn trailing by six goals at quarter time before the skipper took charge. Two goal assists in the second quarter helped breathe life into the contest and gave the side a sniff heading into half time.
Ahead by just a point halfway through the last quarter the left footer brought the MCG to its feet when he goaled on the run from 40 metres out.
His 36 disposals and 13 score involvements helped break a nine-game losing streak against the Hawks.
Ahead by just a point halfway through the last quarter the left footer brought the MCG to its feet when he goaled on the run from 40 metres out.
His 36 disposals and 13 score involvements helped break a nine-game losing streak against the Hawks.
9 - 2014 Round 2 vs Sydney
33 disposals, 16 contested possessions
2014 was a landmark year for Pendlebury with Collingwood turning to him at age 26 to become the club’s 47th captain.
In just his second game in the role the skipper led from the front after quarter time and took down the eventual Grand Finalist on their own turf.
With his team down by 15 points late in the second quarter, a classy sidestep, two handball receives and a finish on the run lifted his side just before the break.
Two goal assists in the second half helped overrun the Swans and mark Pendlebury’s first win as captain.
His 33.5 player rating is his second highest on record and 762 metres games is a personal best.
10 - 2023 Grand Final vs Brisbane
24 disposals, 1 goal
Not necessary his best game statistically but arguably his most impactful game both with and without the ball.
Late in the third quarter Collingwood was starting to feel the pressure with six straight behinds and several other chances slipping through their fingers.
Up stepped Pendlebury to ease the tension with a clutch goal just before three-quarter time to put his side back in front.
With the game on a knife’s edge the 36-year-old delivered a last quarter for the ages that will forever be etched into Collingwood folklore. 11 disposals, four contested possessions, zero turnovers and the centre clearance that contributed to the match winning goal were enough to will his side over the line.
More importantly it was the former captain calling all the shots out on the ground in the final quarter that proved to be the difference in the end.
His 13 years between premierships set a record for longest gap between flags, which he shares with his great mate Steele Sidebottom.
