THE AFL wishes to congratulate Collingwood's Scott Pendlebury, who is set to establish a new VFL/AFL games record mark of 433 games this weekend.

Taken with fifth pick in the 2005 AFL Draft, Pendlebury has become a two-time premiership player, six-time All-Australian, five-time E.W. Copeland Trophy winner, 2010 Norm Smith medallist and four-time ANZAC Day medallist.

Pendlebury holds the competition records for most career disposals, handballs and tackles and has played in front of 23,069,849 fans, making him the most watched player in the competition’s history.  He is currently the only person to have played in front of more than 20 million attendees.

AFL Chief Executive Officer Andrew Dillon said Scott Pendlebury had produced an astonishing level of performance across his career for Collingwood and has done so with great leadership and professionalism.

"Across two decades at the elite level, Scott Pendlebury has consistently demonstrated why he is regarded as one of the game’s greats," Mr Dillon said.

"Scott's composure, decision-making and ability to execute under pressure have been hallmarks of his career, and his influence on matches has been remarkable for such a sustained period of time.

"He has led with humility and professionalism throughout his journey at Collingwood, setting a benchmark for preparation, consistency and leadership for those around him.

"His list of achievements speaks for itself, but equally impressive is the respect he has earned across the football industry through the way he has carried himself both on and off the field.

"Scott has also been an important voice in broader discussions around the game, always approaching those conversations with care, intelligence and a genuine passion for football.

"To reach the highest ever number of AFL/VFL games played is an extraordinary accomplishment that reflects durability, resilience and an enduring commitment to the sport.

"On behalf of the AFL, we congratulate Scott, Alex and their family on a truly outstanding contribution to Australian football."

The AFL historian has complied the list of the below:

• Pick 5 in the 2005 draft
• Debuted 2006 Round 10 vs Brisbane
• Wore the number 16 in his first season before swapping to number 10.
• Two-time premiership player (2010, 2023).
• Five-time E.W. Copeland Trophy Winner (2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016)
• 2010 Norm Smith medal (2010 GF replay)
• 2013 AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year.
• 206 games as Collingwood captain (2014-22). He holds the Collingwood club captaincy record, ahead of Nathan Buckley’s 161 games
• Two-time AFL Players Association Best captain (2020, 2022)
• Rising Star nominee in 2007.  Was runner-up that year to Joel Selwood
• 2007 AFL Coaches Association Best Young Player
• 6x All Australian (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2019).  Named in the squad on another 5 occasions.
• 11 appearances as All-Australian member (6 in team, 5 in extended squad) is second only to Lance Franklin on 12 (8 team, 4 squad)
• At 18 years and 61 days, he was the quickest player to the 400 game milestone, breaking Michael Tuck’s record by 13 days
• 206 games as Collingwood captain, One of seven people to captain their club at least 200 times alongside Joel Selwood, Stephen Kernahan, Dick Reynolds, Nick Riewoldt, Ted Whitten and Michael Voss
• Has polled 943 AFL Coaches votes in his career, third most behind Gary Ablett junior (1009) and Patrick Dangerfield (984).
  Has polled Coaches votes in 183 games, 19 more than any other player.
• On Anzac Day 2024, he became the first player to have 10,000 disposals in VFL/AFL games.
• In round 5 2026, he became the first player with 2000 tackles in VFL/AFL games.
• Pendlebury holds the competition records for most career disposals, handballs and tackles
• Has played in front of 23,069,849 fans, making him the most watched player in the competition’s history.  He is currently the only person to have played in front of more than 20 million attendees.
• There are 23 people who have played in front of 50,000 people at least 100 times, Pendlebury is the only person to have done so at least 200 times (226)
• In terms of crowds, Scott Pendlebury has played in ..
  226 games of 50,000+
  170 games of 60,000+
  117 games of 70,000+
  71 games of 80,000+
  24 games of 90,000+
  3 games of 100,000+
• The first (and currently only) person to have played 100 games on a Friday
• In 2015 he became the first player to have a recorded 60 game streak of 20+ disposals.  6 other players have since achieved the first.
• Scored a goal with his first kick, the third member of the 400 club to do so (Michael Tuck and Brent Harvey)
• Holds the record (alongside Steele Sidebottom) for the biggest gap between winning premierships – 13 years (2010 and 2023).
• Has played in a record 37 games, where his side won despite trailing at three quarter time.  (Has achieved the feat vs every current team with the exception of Fremantle)
• Pendlebury was the …
  1,954th person to 100 games
  1,035th to 150
  515th to 200
  231st to 250
  90th to 300
  20th to 350
  6th to 400
• 225 career Brownlow votes, the most by any player who has not won the award.
• Has played in 33 finals, the fourth most by any player behind only Joel Selwood (40), Michael Tuck (39) and Shaun Burgoyne (35).
• The only person to have played in 4 finals with a margin of under 2 points.  2 one point wins, a one point loss and a draw.
• Pendlebury has played in 61 games decided by under one goal, the most of any player.  His record stands at 28 wins, 28 losses and 5 draws.
• 14 podium finishes in club Best and Fairests, only Gary Dempsey (15) has had more.
  Pendlebury’s record is 5 wins, 6 times runner up and third on three occasions.
• Holds the record for most Best and Fairest podium finishes in seasons where his team played in finals (10).  Two more than any other player (Ron Barassi & Chris Judd)
• Has played in 26 wins against Carlton, the most by any player.
• 3 senior coaches and 1 caretaker coach in his career
  127 games – Mick Malthouse
  202 games – Nathan Buckley
  5 games – Robert Harvey
  98 games – Craig McRae
• Is the only person to have played at least 30 VFL/AFL games under 7 different prime ministers.
• Has had 500 or more disposals in 13 seasons, 2 more than any other player
• In his 431st game - Anzac Day 2026 against Essendon, Pendlebury set a new personal best for disposals in a game with 43.  It marks the first time that anyone has set a new PB for disposals after their 300th career game.
• Pendlebury has played in game with 1819 players (13.66% of all VFL/AFL players since the competition started in 1897)
  176 as teammates
  1708 opposition players
  65 of the 1819 played as both a teammate and also as an opponent
• Of the 1819 players to have taken the field with Pendlebury, 16 of them were born after Pendlebury’s debut in Jume 2006
  Levi Ashcroft, Hugh Boxshall, Talor Byrne, Harry Dean, Josaia Delana, Josh Dolan, Jacob Farrow, Oliver Hannaford, Xavier Lindsay, Murphy Reid, Sullivan Robey, Chris Scerri, Jobe Shanahan, Dyson Sharp, Alix Tauru & Tobie Travaglia
• Pendlebury has played games against six different father and son pairs
  Luke & Sam Darcy
  Scott & Rhylee West
  Peter & Jase Burgoyne
  Alwyn Davey snr & jnr
  Tyson & Luke Edwards
  Daniel & Jesse Motlop
• Has played games in 21 different seasons, only Dustin Fletcher (23) has played in more.  Brent Harvey and Robert Harvey the only other people to have played in 21 different seasons.
• Has played 273 games at the MCG.  The most by any player at a single ground.
• Pendlebury is one of 12 Victorian based players that has played more than 100 games outside Victoria, he is the only one of the group that didn’t play for either North Melbourne or Hawthorn.
• Pendlebury has played 332 games alongside Steele Sidebottom, the most by any pair of teammates in VFL/AFL history
• Scott Pendlebury has played in all 8 of Steele Sidebottom's milestone games (debut & 50 through 350). First time a VFL/AFL player has had the same teammate for 8 milestone game

The progression of the VFL/AFL games record:

• Nicholls and Murray shared the record for 4 rounds before Murray took the sole record on 329 games.
• Charlie Pannam and Ernie Walton shared the record for one round in 1903.

Most VFL/AFL games as teammates

Using Scott Pendlebury, it is possible to link from the VFL competition’s first round through to the current day in just 8 names:

• Teddy Rankin (Geelong) played in round 1, 1897.
• In 1910, Rankin played in a match with George Heinz (Geelong).
• In 1925, Heinz played in a match with Albert Collier (Collingwood).
• In 1941, Collier played in a match with Lou Richards (Collingwood).
• In 1955, Richards played in a match with Kevin Murray (Fitzroy).
• In 1974, Murray played in a match with Simon Madden (Essendon).
• In 1988-92, Madden played in 6 matches with Robert Harvey (St Kilda).
• In 2006-08, Harvey played in 5 matches with Pendlebury.

Most games played alongside Scott Pendlebury

Pendlebury has played games alongside 176 teammates
Has played 100+ games with 31 of them

 Most games played against Scott Pendlebury

Pendlebury is the only person who played in at least 10 wins against Joel Selwood.
 
Win-loss records in 50-game spans
Best:  43-6-1  (2010-12)
Worst:  17-33 (2015-18)