Scott Pendlebury (Silk)

[K]

Barrett:

Pivotal moment shows why Pies giant is one in a million

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1047728/bar ... -a-million

'There is evidence the playing-coach gene has been cloned, and it comes in the form of Scott Pendlebury.

Pendlebury, in game No.383, was among the very best players for Collingwood in its 2023 Grand Final four-point win against Brisbane at the MCG on Saturday. He usually is in a Magpies win. But as has become normal in the past two seasons, his 17th and 18th of one of the grandest careers ever compiled, Pendlebury's effect on the outcome came more from his unofficial role as on-field coach.
...

Pendlebury deservedly earned official Norm Smith Medal votes in Saturday's Grand Final win. His last quarter was exquisite. Using a body which was 99 days shy of turning 36 and in energy-sapping 29-degree conditions, he was the most agile player in this period, amassing 11 disposals, four of them contested. He has played blinders dozens of times before, but it is not a stretch to say his last quarter of the '23 Grand Final was his finest performance.
...

When others on the field would have been experiencing a whirr of stress, self-doubt and fear when Lion Joe Daniher kicked a goal to bring his team to within four points, with 93 seconds remaining, Pendlebury went into coach mode.

Immediately after that goal and as the ball was being returned to the centre, Pendlebury raced to his forward line players, calmly telling them what they needed to do in order to protect a history-shaping lead. He was pointing here and there to his fellow midfielders, but not frantically. The best leaders are the ones who remain reassuringly calm.

We got to learn part of what Pendlebury said after the ball was bounced, when Brody Mihocek ran to the backline.
...

In the past 12 months, Pendlebury has formed a special relationship with Essendon great Matthew Lloyd. In the mayhem of the Collingwood rooms post-match, the two embraced.

In Pendlebury's capacity as midfield coach beneath Lloyd in Haileybury's APS premiership in 2023, they developed layers of football learning and respect.

"I honestly don't think there has ever been a player influence an AFL game, with regards to organising players around him, and telling players where to position themselves in key moments, than Scott Pendlebury," Lloyd told AFL.com.au.'

[burnsy17]

Is he our best ever?

Hard to argue in the modern era at the very least.

2 time premiership player, 383 games, past captain….

[jonmac1954]

An enduring champion, freely sacrificing his game to give his team mates the opportunity and experience they need to take the next step.

One in a million.

[Take_a_Screamer]

You never know, after the end of next year he could be:
3 time premiership player, 400+ gamer

[lanstro]

2 years ago I thought our club had wasted his career. We made partial amends yesterday. One more next year and I'd consider it fair.

[eddiesmith]

Is he our best ever?

Hard to argue in the modern era at the very least.

2 time premiership player, 383 games, past captain….

It's an interesting debate, I see him as our most durable and most reliable.

Doesn't get the same recognition as say a Buckley or Swan or Daicos or Millane, but he just keeps getting the job done and getting better with age.

This is even reflected in Brownlow voting where he's only had 2 top 5 finishes.

But his ability to reinvent himself a couple of years back then easily slide back into midfielder this year shows how good he is.

[On the March]

What I have found in trying to compare players over generations is that the very best had a unique quality / skill which made them better than others. Names such as Daicos, Greening, McKenna, Buckley and Pendles all have this - yet that skill is different in each case. It makes it very difficult to compare , quite apart from the nature of the game at a point in time.

I do not say this lightly but I have seen them all since the early 1970's - Scott Pendlebury (and Steele) are the first two dual premiership players in an eternity. The fact he played such a critical role in the outcome on Saturday and his continued level of performance makes him Collingwood's -

GREATEST OF ALL TIME!

[Mr Miyagi]

That last quarter, simply incredible. Not so much ball use, but also decision making and leadership.

[Raw Hammer]

I’m a Peter Daicos and Nathan Buckley fanboy … but Pendlebury is officially Collingwood’s greatest ever player.

If Nick Daicos continues on this trajectory, he will become number 1.

[jonmac1954]

Agreed on all points.

I will add that if he continues on this trajectory and with a relatively major injury free career he could wind up as an immortal of the game.

Yes he's that good - and perhaps a little bit more.

[mudlark]

It’s been suggested that Pendleton is the most watched player, LIVE, inAFL/ VFL history, with over 19,000,000 people watching him play. It could well be correct. 383 games with a reasonable average of 50,000/ game average and the numbers add up.

[eddiesmith]

The idiots on SEN couldn’t work that out, thought it was including TV audiences and even then weren’t sure…

[Deja Vu]

Right. Not that hard to figure out when he's played in front of 500,000 in just 5 GF's alone

[mudlark]

The idiots on SEN couldn’t work that out, thought it was including TV audiences and even then weren’t sure…

Only the one idiot and he is a Carlton supporter so it figures.

[BBHS]

That last quarter was the exclamation point on an unbelievable career. What an absolute legend.