Scott Pendlebury

Scott Pendlebury (born 7 January 1988) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Collingwood Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Pendlebury was selected for the 2005 under 18 Vic Country team.

He played two of the three games and had an average of 17 possessions.

He was selected to play for eventual 2005 TAC Cup premiers Gippsland Power.

He played 19 games, kicked 11 goals and averaged 22 possessions a game.

Collingwood became aware of Pendlebury after Gippsland Power manager Peter Francis recommended both Pendlebury and his older brother Kristopher.

Collingwood drafted Scott Pendlebury with pick five in the 2005 AFL Draft, and Collingwood's number two pick overall, whereas Kris did not play in the AFL but did captain the Collingwood side in the Victorian Football League.

Pendlebury's 2006 pre-season was hampered by glandular fever, but he made a successful comeback with Collingwood's VFL affiliate, Williamstown.

He made his AFL debut in Round 10 against the Brisbane Lions, and became part of a select group of footballers known for kicking their first goal with their first kick in league football.

He played eight more games in the 2006 season.

Pendlebury switched to the number 10 guernsey previously worn by Blake Caracella, and gave the number 16 guernsey to newcomer Nathan Brown.

Following his nine games in 2006, Pendlebury broke into the Collingwood midfield on a regular basis, averaging 18 disposals a game before he was nominated for the NAB Rising Star in Round 4.

Pendlebury began his career wearing number 16 on his guernsey and changed to number 10 at the start of the 2007 season.

He is a natural left-footer, rarely wastes a possession, and has excellent vision that has been attributed to his years playing basketball.

He collected a season-high 26 possessions in the 2007 Semi-Final against the West Coast Eagles in Perth, and kicked a crucial goal during extra time.

Throughout the 2007 season, he was compared with Geelong rookie midfielder Joel Selwood.

Both were close favourites for the 2007 NAB Rising Star with Selwood eventually winning by seven votes.

Pendlebury also placed second in the 2007 Copeland Trophy behind Travis Cloke.

Pendlebury was voted into Collingwood's five-man leadership group as deputy vice-captain preceding the 2008 season.

Highlights of Pendlebury's season included 33 disposals against Essendon on ANZAC Day and placing a close second behind Paul Medhurst for the Anzac Day medal.

On 9 May 2008, Pendlebury was selected in the Victorian Squad for the AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match, with teammates Josh Fraser and Heath Shaw.

Despite playing only half of the match, he collected 19 disposals with a 79% efficiency rating.

Pendlebury was an important factor in Collingwood's 86-point victory over reigning premiers Geelong.

Pendlebury played his 50th game on 9 August 2008 against St Kilda in Round 19.

He finished third in Collingwood's 2008 Best and Fairest count.

Pendlebury became more prominent in 2009.

He collected a career high 39 disposals against Melbourne Football Club on the Queens Birthday and won the Women's Round medal.

He had a career high 22 kicks against the West Coast Eagles and another career high 20 handballs against the Richmond Football Club.

Despite missing a few games due to injuries, he was still shortlisted for selection as an All-Australian.

He had an average of 26 disposals a game (13 kicks and 13 handballs)and averaged 2 goals per 5 games.

His season ended with a cracked fibula bone injury in the Qualifying final.

Pendlebury polled 13 votes in the 2009 Brownlow Medal, the top ranked Collingwood player.

Pendlebury is a dual premiership player, also winning the Norm Smith Medal as best on ground in the 2010 grand final replay, and was the AFLCA champion player of the year in 2013.

He is a six-time All-Australian and five-time Copeland Trophy winner, and is the Collingwood games record holder with 384 games.

Pendlebury is also the league record holder for disposals, handballs and tackles.

Originally from Sale in the Gippsland Region of Victoria, Pendlebury began his sporting career playing basketball and accepted a scholarship to the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra; however, after 3 weeks at the AIS, he decided to quit the under 18s squad and return to Victoria to pursue professional football with the Gippsland Power in the TAC Cup.

In 2010 Pendlebury won a spot in the All-Australian team and won the ANZAC Medal.

He served as Collingwood captain from 2014 to 2022.

Pendlebury's vacated place in the AIS squad was taken by Patty Mills, who went on to win an NBA Championship in 2014 with the San Antonio Spurs.

Growing up, Pendlebury supported the Melbourne Football Club.