A ‘Pendleship’ might be one of the last ways to secure a seat to Collingwood legend Scott Pendlebury’s record-breaking match, while Will Day has opened up about his VFL return.

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HOW ‘PENDLESHIP’ GETS YOU A SEAT TO LANDMARK GAME AS PROOF ‘FIGHT IS ON’ FOR MEMENTOS

A ‘Pendleship’ might be one of the last ways to secure a seat to Collingwood legend Scott Pendlebury’s record-breaking match as details around a unique piece of memorabilia emerged.

A crowd of at least 88,000 is now expected to attend the Magpies-Eagles game on Saturday at the MCG, which will see Pendlebury play his 433rd AFL match to break the league’s games record. Only standing room tickets remain on sale through official outlets.

But the Magpies this week have established a ‘Pendleship’ that could help patrons secure a seat.

Priced at, coincidentally, $43.30 – $33.70 cheaper than what it’s usually priced at – the membership package buys you a general admission ticket to Saturday’s match on Level 4 of the Shane Warne Stand, as well as a member pack featuring a scarf, key ring and stickers, plus 10 per cent off merchandise at the club shop.

Pendlebury with fans after training. Picture: Michael KleinSource: News Corp Australia

“It is one of the only ways to get yourself in the gate,” CODE Sports reporter Lauren Wood said on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle.

“Collingwood are really keen to stress this is very separate to the testimonial and memorabilia side of things – even though this membership does bare Scott’s name – as this isn’t one of those things he’s going to be earning funds.”

Wood also detailed a quirky piece of memorabilia, featuring a replica game jumper and “a piece of the match ball” that’ll be available post-game.

“There’s so much talk about the funds he’ll be getting from memorabilia and the likes – and I tell you what the fight is well and truly on for every piece of that memorabilia,” she said.

An SP433 ball. Picture: Michael KleinSource: News Corp Australia

“There’s pieces available for $1500 that I’ll include a piece of the match ball … a 3cm x 3cm piece of leather – which was so highly sought after at Collingwood training (on Tuesday). I had a few spies down there on Olympic Boulevard and someone tried to steal one today – and it was noticed by none other than Scott Pendlebury. He noticed it in this guy’s bag, (a ball) had been kicked over the fence at training.

“That just goes to show the fight is on for any piece that people can get from this week.”

SETBACK ‘A BLESSING IN DISGUISE’ FOR HAWKS STAR AS RETURN PLAN REVEALED

Hawthorn star Will Day will play managed minutes in the VFL on Friday and could return to the senior side as soon as next week.

The luckless Hawk has not played in 2026 after sustaining a shoulder injury during the pre-season.

That latest setback followed an injury-plagued 2025 campaign (foot) and a season-ending collarbone problem the previous year.

Day integrated back into main training a fortnight ago and has proven his case for a long-awaited return.

Speaking on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 on Tuesday night, Day said he expected to play “about 60 per cent game time” and would start on the bench every quarter.

This Friday’s match is a small but exciting step for Will Day. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

“Very excited. It’s felt like a long time coming and I just want Friday to hurry up and come around,” Day told Fox Footy’s AFL 360.

“I’ll play Friday and see how the body goes, but we think I’m at a stage where I’ve had had some good fitness, had some good full trainings. Get through this one and we’ll see what happens from there.

“Start on the bench, which will be a bit frustrating – the competitiveness in me will be hurting being on the bench – but obviously know there’s a grand plan. I’m just looking forward to having fun.”

Day said the shoulder injury could be “a bit of a blessing in disguise”.

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“As annoying and frustrating as it was, I think coming back now, it was able to give the foot the time that it needed and we were able to do so many extra things in the rehab for that as well,” he said.

Hawks coach Sam Mitchell said Day would be “carefully managed” but added it was a “pretty exciting” prospect for Day, the Hawks and Hawthorn fans.

“When he gets back, stay back. That’s the aim, it could be as early as next week or it could be longer than that,” Mitchell told reporters.

“He’s obviously coming back from a shoulder which means he’s fitter, you can get a lot more physical work in, your physical profile, they can work pretty hard.

“So he’s going to be ready for AFL footy at a high level straight away. Sometimes when you get back from a foot or a lower leg injury, it’s hard to get the fitness based needed.”