Updated ,first published
Scott Pendlebury’s ambitions to become a senior coach were crystallised two months ago while the Collingwood great was sitting in the box with Craig McRae coaching against what would become his new club Gold Coast.
Pendlebury has donned the black and white for the final time and will play out his career as a Sun as part of a transition into a coaching career.
The league’s games record holder has decided to accept a four-year contract from the Suns, which will include two years as a player and two as a coach. 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.
Pendlebury’s management and Collingwood chief Craig Kelly are in discussions for the dual premiership player and five-time Copeland Trophy winner to be paraded at a Pies 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.
“There’s plans in place for Collingwood to celebrate Scott’s amazing career at the Collingwood Football Club,” said Pendlebury’s manager Anthony Panozzo, of Hemisphere Sports.
Pendlebury’s decision to move to the Suns is a fillip for the expansion club, which failed to live up to lofty expectations this season.
The Suns, who finished 13th, beat Essendon to win the services for Pendlebury, who knocked back a more lucrative offer from the Bombers to wear the red and black.
According to a well-placed industry source with knowledge of the matter, Pendlebury felt he could provide the Suns’ talented young list with direction on and off the field.
“We’re delighted Scott Pendlebury has decided to continue his career on the Gold Coast and we look forward to welcoming him to our football club,” Gold Coast said in a post on X.
“Given Scott’s stature at the Collingwood Football Club, we believe today should be an opportunity to celebrate and recognise his incredible impact throughout the past 21 years.”
The lure of playing and coaching was a big factor in Pendlebury – who, according to his management, did not have contract discussions with the Pies – deciding to move north with his wife Alex and young family.
The move allows Pendlebury to cut his teeth as a coach under triple premiership mentor Damien Hardwick and experience life at another club after 21 seasons and 442 games at Collingwood.
Though Pendlebury had been linked to the Suns, as reported previously by this masthead, news of his departure capped off a whirlwind 12 hours for the Magpies, who bowed out of the premiership race in heartbreaking fashion on Friday night in what proved to be Steele Sidebottom’s 375th and final game.
Pendlebury refused to go into depth about the move but both player and club said the parting was amicable.
“This is a career opportunity for me that’s going to progress me to the next level I want to get to,” Pendlebury said at a press conference on Saturday at the Pies’ headquarters, with the club’s 16 premiership cups as a backdrop. “We’re all very aligned.”
Pendlebury is widely considered to be a coach in waiting, but he said there was a period when he was unsure if he would pursue that path.
“I’ve got ambitions to be a senior coach, definitely, and that was part of the discussions we had as well,” Pendlebury said.
“I think for a little bit of time there, I probably wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but I remember sitting up there on the Gold Coast this year and actually coaching with ‘Fly’, and the passion that gave me then, that’s part of the decision-making here, too. It’s the career opportunity that I’ve got. That’s definitely an ambition of mine.”
The timing of Pendlebury’s announcement meant Magpies fans were denied the chance to send him off.
Pendlebury declined the opportunity to farewell supporters after the wildcard final defeat, preferring instead to stand in a guard of honour for Sidebottom, so his great friend could have the moment to himself.
“That was beautiful, and I didn’t want to distract from that at all,” Pendlebury, who felt the love of the fans in his record-breaking game in May, said.
“Me and my family have had an amazing 21-year ride here. I walked in as a skinny 17-year-old in the back of Dale Thomas’ car with a surfboard that reeked out his whole car, and he was my Uber driver for four months.
“I leave as a 38-year-old with a few grey hairs and a couple of premierships. I’m forever grateful to this football club so thank you.”
There were sombre scenes in the rooms on Friday night as he hugged well-wishers minutes after leaving the field.
“It’s the next chapter of his journey. Collingwood have been unbelievable and have been super supportive to Scott around Scott’s decision,” Panozzo said.
“But, at the same time, unfortunately things go their way last night, but at the same time he is really excited for him and his family and the kids for what’s next.”
Magpies coach Craig McRae paid tribute to Pendlebury, who he said approached every day with humility, care and a willingness to learn. “We talk a lot about legacy in footy, but Scott’s legacy isn’t just the games or the records. It’s the impact he’s had on people,” he said in a club statement.
“At Collingwood, we live in a state of growth mindset with no ceilings and he has led this from the front. He has been an incredible role model for his teammates and the wider club.”
Magpies president Barry Carp said Pendlebury would always be cherished by the club.
“On behalf of everyone at Collingwood, I simply want to say thank you, Scott,” Carp said.
“We’re enormously grateful for everything he’s given. Scott has represented Collingwood with class, dignity and excellence. It’s been a privilege for all of us to be part of his journey.”
McRae said on Friday night he expected the Magpies to be aggressive through the trade and free agency period, as the club has considerable room in the salary cap.
“I think we’re just in the business of getting better and at what level? I’m not sure, but we’ll be pushing hard. We put ourselves in a position to have a salary cap for the first time that’s got a healthy bank balance for want of a better term.
“We’re in the business of improving ourselves. So now the season’s finished, we’ll probably get a bit deeper into those things.”
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Jon Pierik is a sports journalist at The Age. He covers AFL and has won awards for his cricket and basketball writing.Connect via X or email.
Jake Niall is a Walkley award-winning sports journalist and chief AFL writer for The Age.Connect via X or email.