SCOTT Pendlebury's exemplary record has seen his one-match suspension downgraded to a $3000 fine at Tuesday night's two-hour Tribunal hearing.

In what Chairman Jeff Gleeson described as a complex case, the rough conduct charge for Pendlebury's collision with Josh Worrell was upheld, but the penalty downgraded due to 'exceptional and compelling circumstances'.

The Collingwood champion's perfect record across 21 seasons saved him from suspension.

"To have played 427 games of AFL football as a midfielder engaged in many thousands of contests over his career and to have never been suspended is clearly exceptional, when compared to the entire history of VFL/AFL players," Gleeson said in his summary.

"This record is of itself a compelling circumstance, but we also take into account this was a careless act and certainly not at the high end of the careless range.

"Pendlebury moved in such a way so as to reduce the force of the impact … it did not cause injury, and it was very much an in-play incident."

Pendlebury will now line up against Greater Western Sydney on March 27 following the Magpies' bye this weekend.

The veteran midfielder spoke extensively during 70 minutes of evidence with Collingwood's lawyer arguing it was not a bump and therefore not rough conduct.

The Tribunal even saw GPS data from the Magpies that showed Pendlebury decelerating once he realised there would be a collision with Worrell.

"If I didn’t brace myself, potentially we would have knocked each other out," he said.

However, the Tribunal did not accept that he was bracing or that he was contesting the ball.

"Viewing the direction and way in which Pendlebury's body moved … we are satisfied this was a bump," Gleeson said.

"Although the incident unfolded quickly, we are satisfied Pendlebury had time to, and did form the decision, to bump."

However, the argument for exceptional and compelling circumstances won the day.

To aid Pendlebury's case, Collingwood showed the three other players to reach 400 games this century – a time it believes relevant due to increased television coverage and scrutiny.

Brent Harvey (12 games), Shaun Burgoyne (six) and Dustin Fletcher (20) were all suspended during their illustrious careers.

Assuming he does not miss a game, Pendlebury is now on track to equal Harvey's games record of 432 on Anzac Day against Essendon, and hold the record outright the following week when the Magpies play Hawthorn.