![\"Scott](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/a4f800f9e480c2a310a6cd1ac8a883f8c4665f89.png\")
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September 1, 2026 \u2014 12:05am<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n Nathan Buckley says he is rapt about Scott Pendlebury\u2019s late-career shift from Collingwood to Gold Coast<\/a>, declaring that by making such a move now the AFL\u2019s games record holder will be \u201csuper ready\u201d for his next AFL career step.<\/p>\n Collingwood great Buckley \u2013 who coached Pendlebury between 2012 and 2021, a large portion of which Pendlebury was Pies captain \u2013 said the 442-game AFL veteran would have made the best decision \u201cbased on all the available evidence\u201d. Pendlebury has decided to accept a four-year contract from the Suns, which will include two years as a player and two as a coach.<\/p>\n There are options for that deal to be modified if Pendlebury cannot see out the term on the field. He will be 40 by the end of the two-year playing contract.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s not going to be a player forever, and this is the perfect lead-in to whatever aspirations he has beyond that,\u201d Buckley said on Fox Footy\u2019s On The Couch on Monday night.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m rapt to see him move out of Collingwood, go to another environment, learn more there, and be super ready to take whatever the next steps are.\u201d<\/p>\n Pendlebury\u2019s management and Collingwood boss Craig Kelly are in discussions for the dual premiership player and five-time Copeland Trophy winner to be paraded at a Magpies home game early next season at a time that also suits his new club. The Pies will also pay tribute to him at their best-and-fairest function.<\/p>\n Buckley backed Pendlebury\u2019s decision to reveal his decision on Saturday morning \u2013 after their season ended with a wildcard final loss to the Western Bulldogs. Collingwood supporters farewelled fellow club great Steele Sidebottom, but they \u2013 and Pendlebury\u2019s teammates \u2013 were left in the dark about his move.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was commiserating with his teammates after the siren,\u201d Buckley said. \u201cI guarantee you none of them would have been aware of what was going on at that point because you do hold your counsel until the appropriate time, and the appropriate time was on the Saturday morning.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Buckley said Pendlebury would continue to be an on-field asset for Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got no doubt that it looked like he was sore as the year went on,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cBut what\u2019s to say that that wasn\u2019t a response to the colder months?<\/p>\n \u201cHe has structured up that Collingwood side and pulled them together and been the on-field coach and Craig McRae\u2019s proxy on-field when it\u2019s required.<\/p>\n Related Article \u201cI\u2019ve got no doubt that he can go and do most of those things for Damien Hardwick at least next year, potentially into the year beyond.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd that\u2019s what they\u2019re looking for.\u201d<\/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![\"Collingwood](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/df6b236c1feab2c9048af246a6e8c1fa599dd6fe.jpeg\")
Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury and coach Nathan Buckley talk tactics in 2021.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Collingwood](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1788188809_981_f878796a29ac29d9a65fd02781346392f3259415.jpeg\")
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