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April 26, 2026 \u2014 5:00am<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n Save this article for later<\/p>\n Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime.<\/p>\n Got it<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n Collingwood are likely to make the Magpie Army wait an extra week for Scott Pendlebury\u2019s record-equalling game, despite the modern-day marvel amassing his most-ever possessions in a single game in the Anzac Day drubbing of Essendon.<\/p>\n Magpies coach Craig McRae is leaning towards resting 38-year-old Pendlebury because of the five-day turnaround leading into their clash against Hawthorn on Thursday night at the MCG.<\/p>\n Pendlebury, who on Saturday became the first player to win four Anzac Day Medals, is one game away from equalling North Melbourne great Brent Harvey\u2019s 432-game record.<\/p>\n \u201cI won\u2019t make that [decision] now, but I probably think you\u2019re unlikely next week,\u201d McRae said to Pendlebury in the post-game press conference.<\/p>\n Editor’s pick \u201cWe\u2019ll make decisions early in the week, [and] see how he pulls up. He had a lot of time on ground, which is great for today, but maybe not for the next week. But, again, we\u2019ll assess that early in the week.\u201d<\/p>\n Pendlebury\u2019s age-defying exploits in his 19th Anzac Day outing were nothing short of phenomenal.<\/p>\n In his 431st game, he rose to his greatest heights, setting a new personal high for possessions in a game \u2013 his 43 disposals surpassing the standard he set against Adelaide in 2013.<\/p>\n Incredibly, he won the first of his Anzac Day Medals in 2010.<\/p>\n His record-breaking 43rd disposal, a free kick and goal as the crowd chanted his name, came late in the final term while he was resting forward. It spoke to how long he had been in the game.<\/p>\n At the time, he was playing on Essendon\u2019s Archie Roberts, a young midfielder he coached at Haileybury College four years ago.<\/p>\n \u201cWe won a flag together,\u201d Pendlebury said with a grin. \u201cSo when I saw that he was on me, I thought, \u2018I\u2019ll take him deep\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cThe APS [Associated Public Schools] chat has lit up about that little match-up, so I won\u2019t let Arch live that one down.<\/p>\n \u201cBut he\u2019s had an amazing start to his AFL career. Even today, he looked really sharp for them.<\/p>\n Related Article \u201cIt\u2019s a joy sitting back watching him, knowing, you know, that I\u2019ve coached him, and we\u2019ve got a good relationship. So I\u2019ll always keep a keen interest on Archie.\u201d<\/p>\n The humble Pendlebury said the ball simply fell his way on a special home-and-away occasion that he likened to playing on grand final day.<\/p>\n Of his 43 touches, 19 were score involvements \u2013 the most of any player in the competition this year.<\/p>\n \u201cI was saying to Jordy [De Goey] late, even when I was trying to get away from the ball, it still had a way of finding me,\u201d the veteran said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cIt was just one of those days for me where it sort of just kept bouncing my way … so, yeah, at 38, you take those days.\u201d<\/p>\n Pendlebury would not be drawn on an end-date for his career, stating he still loved the process of preparing and playing a match.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m pretty tired right now, I\u2019m not gonna lie,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t mind going home and jumping in the ice bath and putting the feet up and watching the footy, and getting to sleep by about nine o\u2019clock would be nice … I\u2019ll see how I feel tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n If Pendlebury is rested next week, he would be due to play his 432nd game on a Saturday night against Geelong at the MCG in round nine \u2013 a home game for the Cats.<\/p>\n Then the Magpies face Sydney at the SCG in round 10, and return to the MCG the following week against the Eagles.<\/p>\n Pendlebury said he would prefer to break the record in front of Collingwood fans, but did not rule himself out of playing against Hawthorn next week.<\/p>\n \u201cI think as \u2018Fly\u2019 [McRae] said, we\u2019ll see how we pull up,\u201d Pendlebury said. \u201cIt\u2019s a quick turnaround. So, yeah, if I can recover well and pull up well, we\u2019ll have that conversation.<\/p>\n \u201cBut, we\u2019ve got a bigger picture in mind, and we\u2019ll stick to that.\u201d<\/p>\n Magpie Angus Anderson was playing in just his third game and first Anzac Day clash. The 22-year-old mature-age recruit marvelled at Pendlebury\u2019s longevity.<\/p>\n \u201cYou look at him, and he\u2019s just in a whole different time space. He has so much time with the ball,\u201d Anderson said.<\/p>\n \u201cYou obviously know he\u2019s going to go down as one of the greats, but it is a whole different thing to be lacing up your boots with him. It\u2019s just amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n Anderson said his spine was tingling when the crowd were chanting, \u201cPendles, Pendles, Pendles\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cFor him to do that at his age is second to none. No one else will probably ever do it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Scott](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/b90937a7bd6fe7fcb2edb97f192ffceeec8e7646.jpeg\")
Scott Pendlebury wound back the clock for the Magpies earlier on Anzac Day. It wasn\u2019t just a vintage performance. In some ways, it surpassed his best.AFL Photos<\/p>\n![\"Brad](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/065b9b1a6a1847bd3e98032de7cc5cbf5f98d1cc.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Michael](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/583d0664c4da660d478c6bc5e60a80f7d9089841.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Archie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/e209b857534298a268a7dd23cf7091d3e2a76105.jpeg\")
Archie Roberts (right) and the Bombers had a dirty day against Nick Daicos and the Pies.AFL Photos<\/p>\n