Collingwood have survived a scare to claim a nervy 10-point win over West Coast at the MCG on Saturday to ensure Scott Pendlebury could celebrate his recordbreaking game in style.
The 38-year-old played his 433rd career game in his 21st AFL season, breaking North Melbourne great Brent Harvey’s record of 432 matches set back in 2016.
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Pendlebury led the Magpies out onto the field and every Collingwood player wore a guernsey with their number in gold on the back to honour the milestone.
The Collingwood champion had a fairly quiet game by his standards with 20 disposals as Nick Daicos impressed with 34 touches and three goals.
West Coast closed within three points in the last quarter but the Magpies steadied to claim a 13.14 (92) to 12.10 (82) victory, with the 10-point margin fitting for Pendlebury.
The win was soured by a hamstring injury to captain Darcy Moore and a serious knee injury to forward Jamie Elliott, who was stretchered off in the closing stages of the game.
7.05pm – ‘Tragedy’ as Pies star stretchered off
After West Coast closed within three points in the last quarter, Collingwood’s experienced players came to the fore and Nick Daicos kicked his third goal of the game to put the result beyond doubt.
“They just couldn’t lose,” commentator Anthony Hudson said.
But disaster struck minutes later when Collingwood’s Jamie Elliott clutched at his left knee when he landed awkwardly after taking a mark.
The 33-year-old Pies forward was taken off the MCG on a medicab and the injury could well be career ending if it is an ACL injury.
“He grabbed the left knee straight away. He landed on it badly. This is a tragedy.” Jason Dunstall said on Kayo Sports.
A melee ensued with Collingwood players appearing to take issue with West Coast’s Tylar Young, the Eagles player who was in the marking contest with Elliott.
Scott Pendlebury could be seen having words with West Coast’s Reuben Ginbey before players from both teams got into a scuffle as tensions boiled over.
Eagles coach Andrew McQualter was asked about the altercation in his post-game press conference.
“Firstly, I really hope Jamie is OK. It looked like a nasty incident, and you don’t want to see anyone getting injured,” McQualter said.
“I looked at it again, and I’m certain Tylar Young did nothing wrong in that marking contest.
“He was competing for the ball, and he was in that marking contest. Unfortunately, accidents happen in our game.
“I don’t know what they were remonstrating for. It’s disappointing Jamie got injured, but there’s nothing more to it.”
6.10pm – Brain fade opens floodgates, Eagles fight back
West Coast were hanging in the contest until a brain fade from Reuben Ginbey gifted all the momentum to Collingwood.
Nick Daicos gave away a free kick for pushing Liam Baker out of the way to allow a Collingwood shot to go through for a goal.
But Ginbey knocked Daicos to the ground and the umpire reversed the free kick in a fairly soft call, giving Daicos a shot on goal from right in front.
He made no mistake, giving Collingwood a 17-point lead and sapping a heap of energy from the Eagles.
Jamie Elliott then kicked a classy goal from the forward pocket to extend Collingwood’s lead before he slotted another goal over his shoulder.
“The party has started at the MCG. Hold onto your hats here,” Garry Lyon said on Kayo Sports.
But just when it looked like the Magpies were running away with the game, West Coast kicked three goals in a row to make it an 11-point game with a quarter to go.
5.35pm – Umpire puts whistle away for Pendles
Collingwood leads West Coast 6.9 (45) to 5.5 (35) at halftime but this has been an impressive showing by the Eagles, who are very much in the contest.
There was a bizarre moment in the second quarter when the ball tumbled towards Pendlebury in Collingwood’s forward 50, and he tried to keep the Sherrin in play.
The cameras showed the ball was clearly over the boundary line, but the umpire didn’t agree and play continued.
“The umpire is umpiring Pendlebury different to everybody else,” commentator Anthony Hudson exlaimed on Kayo Sports.
“Just hesitated on the whistle because of who it was, not where he was.”
Collingwood captain Darcy Moore has been rule out for the remainder of the game with a hamstring injury sustained in a ruck contest.
4.40pm – Pendles bodies Harley Reid
Eagles young gun Harley Reid sent Pendlebury to the MCG turf with a ‘don’t argue’ fend early in the game, leaving the Collingwood champion on his backside.
But Pendlebury got his revenge minutes later, dropping a shoulder into Reid and knocking him over the boundary line.
“Pendles finally got him back,” Cameron Mooney said on Kayo Sports.
West Coast have come out firing and lead 20 to 18 at quarter time, taking it right up to the Pies.
4.20pm – Collingwood’s gold jersey statement
Pendlebury led his team out and ran through the banner with his two children. Every single Collingwood player is wearing a gold number on the back of their guernsey.
“I love it. I love myself some merch,” David King said on Kayo Sports.
“It looks terrific. Doesn’t it look great on the back of the jumper. It looks awesome. Great to see the club have gone with the full 23 (in gold).
“Gee that’s striking. That looks terrific. Well done Collingwood.”
Magpies coach Craig McRae said: “The jumpers look good. I’m not sure we got approval for all of them, we might get in trouble for that. We wanted to look like a team.”
The AFL did give Collingwood approval for every player to wear a gold number, but Pendlebury’s teammates didn’t know about it until moments before the game.
A special dual premiership ring designed by jeweller Jeff Devers will be auctioned off post match. The ring is valued at $50,000 and all proceeds of the sale will go to My Room Children’s Cancer Charity.
Even Pendlebury acknowledged the attention around his record breaking game had gone a little over the top.
“I’ve tried to lap it up and enjoy it,” he said.
“It’s pretty funny, I was doing some shopping yesterday down in Elwood and they clapped me when I walked out and I was holding a pumpkin. It’s like, I’m getting clapped for buying a pumpkin!”
“But it’s been fun and I’ve enjoyed it. Now’s the easy part where you get to go out and play.”
The Magpies are heavy favourites to get the win but West Coast have considered employing a tag on Pendlebury via Harley Reid or Milan Murdock, who shut down GWS star Lachie Whitfield last week.
Fellow 400 gamer Shaun Burgoyne said on Kayo Sports: “We’re in the midst of witnessing greatness right now. I don’t think we’ll ever see anyone break his record because it just looks like it’s too far.
Pendlebury will wear boots designed by his kids Jax and Darcy, which he described as the “best thing I’ve ever received in footy”.
Kayo Sports will have a dedicated Pendlebury camera for viewers want to follow his every move throughout the game.
Watch Collingwood vs West Coast on Kayo Sports.
