Scott Pendlebury is free to play against GWS next week after the Collingwood veteran had his one-game ban downgraded at the AFL tribunal. Collingwood and Pendlebury successfully argued that Pendlebury’s good record was ‘exceptional and compelling’ circumstances to warrant a downgrade.
He’s instead copped a $3000 fine for his high hit on Adelaide Crows player Josh Worrell. It means Pendlebury has still never been suspended in his 427-game AFL career, although he’s not exactly a complete clean-skin. And he’s now copped four charges in the last four years.
Scott Pendlebury (centre) copped two charges in 2024 for incidents with Harley Reid (L) and Lachie Neale (R). Image: Getty
Affectionately known as the AFL’s ‘good bloke’ rule, players can essentially have charges downgraded if they have a clean record over a long period of time. Charlie Cameron had a suspension downgraded to a fine in 2024 after a character reference from Eddie Betts.
And while the AFL has dialled back the rule since then, many had pointed out that Pendlebury’s good record across 21 seasons was surely enough to get a downgrade. But while everyone is highlighting his lack of suspensions, not many have pointed out he’s actually been charged four times since 2022.
He was charged with rough conduct on Sam Powell-Pepper in 2022, and then copped two separate charges in 2024. The first was for striking Lachie Neale when he punched the Brisbane Lions star in the stomach, and the second was for tripping Harley Reid. All three resulted in fines rather than bans.
So to claim that Pendlebury has a clean record isn’t exactly true, and this is actually his third instance of rough conduct in recent years. However it wasn’t enough for the tribunal to uphold his suspension, and he’s free to play.
AFL greats had called for Scott Pendlebury to be freed
Pendlebury said on Triple M radio on Sunday: “If I say I braced what happens? Well, I braced. I briefly did some research. I have played 427 games. I have never been to the tribunal so I don’t know how it works.
“There is a good character clause. And I braced…The play as it happened, I was our go-to play off the back of the contest and I didn’t realise we had hit. I took off.”
Scott Pendlebury’s shoulder hit Josh Worrell in the head. Image: Fox Footy
Speaking on SEN radio on Monday, Kane Cornes said: “If he doesn’t (qualify for the rule), no one does. Let him off, let him play. With that clause, if it doesn’t apply to someone like Scott, there’s no point in having it.”
Jimmy Bartel said on Channel 9: “After 400 games, I think you’ve got brownie points earned up where you can take a week’s suspension and get off. It was hardly a ferocious act, it was accidental contact.
“He did bump him high, but the Adelaide player played on…so free Scott Pendlebury, let’s get him to that (games) record as quick as possible and celebrate the legend that he is.”