Pure Pendles — Distilled for 250 games

The day was Saturday the 24th of June 2006. The day that Collingwood supporters nationwide knew we had something the special.

Round 12, against the Sydney Swans, in the short-lived traditional split round. It was the day that I knew the title of midfield maestro would be passed from the legendary Nathan Buckley to this scrawny 18 year old from Gippsland. It was the day that I became engrossed by the silky smooth mover, clean user and big-game superstar, Scott Pendlebury.

The day came seven months after Pendlebury was drafted to Collingwood. A much hyped draft, with priority picks to Carlton, Collingwood and Hawthorn, the raw talent seen in the Top 10 youngsters around the country meant that Pendles was able to slip through to No. 5.

And it was hard to argue, with those taken ahead of him being Marc Murphy, Dale Thomas, Xavier Ellis, and Josh J Kennedy. I don’t think it would be a stretch to say that Pendlebury has outshone all of those taken ahead of him, with perhaps the exception of the 2-time Coleman Medallist Kennedy.

This fateful day also came just two rounds after his debut against the Lions in Round 10 of 2016. Pendles would kick his first goal against the Lions while Buckley’s six goals would lead the Pies to a four goal win. We saw glimpses of the signature composure under pressure, and the ability to find time and space where there was none. Little did we know exactly what kind of brilliance was to come.

This day saw the first of many incredible highlights from the current skipper. His goal late in extra-time to ice the game against the Eagles would soon follow late in 2007, a habit he seemed to enjoy from time to time. He would go on to kick incredibly composed sealers throughout his career, most memorable were those against Geelong in 2012, Carlton in 2013 (against his former coach, Mick Malthouse) and as recently as this year against the Hawks to finish a famous 43 point comeback.

But perhaps my favourite Pendlebury moment, perhaps my favourite AFL moment of all time, was Pendles’ right foot goal on the run from 50m against the Cats in the first quarter of 2010 preliminary final. It was his second goal, and Collingwood’s sixth, in what would turn out to be a rout in one possibly the most hyped game of the decade outside of our Grand Finals.

I was there for this moment, one I will never forget. The crowd, including myself, went absolutely bonkers with likely 75,000 screaming Collingwood supporters barely able to believe the dismantling of the all-conquering Cats happening right before our eyes. It was vintage Pendlbury, composure on the turnover and a classy finish. As usual, it was another key moment and key game in which Pendles was to stand up.

The skipper has made a habit of going big in the so-called big games throughout his career. As mentioned, his performance as a 19 year old against the Eagles in a semi-final in 2007 would see him promoted to the leadership group the following year. His whole finals series in 2010, barring the first Grand Final where he was virus-affected, was astounding. Even in the 2011 Grand Final, where we would be worn down by the Catters, he was phenomenal, almost single handedly keeping us in the game where all appeared to be lost. His two Anzac Medals in 2010 and 2011 were more tangible proof of his “big-game player” tag, as he simply dominated the Bombers two years in a row, although he was perhaps nearly stripped of the 2011 award due to some questionable haircut decisions.

But of course the greatest game of all was that 2010 Grand Final Replay. The Pies had made a habit of making me nervous, and after watching them for 18 years without a flag, they couldn’t have made me more nervous than in the first Grand Final, where an ill Pendles couldn’t be the calming influence we needed him to be. Enter, fit, healthy, incredible Pendles the following week. 29 disposals, 11 tackles, 4 inside 50s and a Norm Smith Medal. As I watched on my television from home, the eyes most certainly welled up as my favourite player collected the medal in a game which saw my favourite club climb to the top of the football world.

Alas, I have gone off on a tangent, and a mighty fine one at that, but I should return to the topic of discussion. Scott Pendlebury is due to play his 250th game on Sunday, 4026 days after the aforementioned fabled day against the Sydney Swans. What was so special about this day? It was the day Pendles arrived, in the most characteristic of fashions. In a must win game, with Sydney charging back at the Pies in the second half, former Collingwood great Paul Williams was threatening to stream through the middle and set up yet another Sydney forward thrust. Enter the most underrated “Hand of God” of all time, as Pendlebury, on the ground from an earlier contest, snatched the ball clean from Williams’ grasp and dished off a lightning handball to set Collingwood on their way. To put it simply, it was pure Pendles.

While fate has cruelly, on two separate occasions, prevented me from meeting him properly, I can only wish Pendles all the best in his 250th against the Hawks, and selfishly hope there are somehow still 250 more games left for us to witness.