Scott Pendlebury is already a Collingwood great. Picture: AFL Photos

SCOTT Pendlebury is poised to break three monumental records in as many weeks in what promises to be an extended mid-season celebration of the Collingwood champion's decorated career.

In one of the most anticipated milestones of the 2020 season, Pendlebury will claim the Magpies' games record from 1990 premiership captain Tony Shaw (313) in the round 14 clash with Sydney at the SCG, presuming his renowned durability continues.

That same night against the Swans the evergreen veteran is also scheduled to claim the club record for most games as captain or acting captain from his coach Nathan Buckley (161).

Less known is that before Pendlebury collects that revered club double, he'll break another colossal record. When the 32-year-old leads his team against West Coast at the MCG in round 11, he will have played more games on the hallowed turf than anyone in League history.

Scott Pendlebury celebrates a goal against Geelong in the 2019 qualifying final at the MCG. Picture: AFL Photos

Pendlebury has played 195 games at the MCG, behind only Richmond legend Kevin Bartlett, who made exactly 200 appearances at the home of football.

The Magpie marvel is set to equal Bartlett's record against Carlton in round nine before moving into uncharted territory when the Pies confront the Eagles in what looms as a blockbuster.

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Pendlebury has enjoyed many special moments at the MCG, including:

- Kicking his first goal with his first kick on debut against Brisbane in round 10, 2006, after being on the end of a pinpoint across-the-body pass by then veteran skipper Buckley. Pendlebury, 18 at the time, had 11 possessions, eight of them contested, in a 26-point win.

- Piloting Collingwood to the 2010 premiership by winning the Norm Smith Medal after being adjudged best afield against St Kilda in the Grand Final replay, after performing below expectations in the previous week's drawn game as he battled a stomach bug.

- Winning Anzac Day Medals in 2010, 2011 and last year, the pick of them probably being the 2011 effort when he shredded Essendon with 34 possessions, eight clearances, eight tackles and three goals in a runaway 30-point victory.

Scott Pendlebury with the 2019 ANZAC Medal. Picture: AFL Photos

However, it hasn't all been kicks and giggles at the MCG, which has also been the scene of heartbreak for Pendlebury, who has been part of Pies teams that have lost Grand Finals in 2011 (by 38 points to Geelong) and 2018 (by five points to West Coast), lost preliminary finals in 2007 (by five points to eventual premier Geelong) and last year (by four points to Greater Western Sydney), along with a shock defeat in their 2013 elimination final (by 24 points to Port Adelaide).

The drawn Grand Final of 2010 was also a source of frustration, while Pendlebury's 2009 finals series ended with a broken leg early in the qualifying final loss to St Kilda.

Pendlebury mightn't stop at three records this year. If the ultra-professional continues to defy his birth certificate he might well put himself in contention to snare a sixth best and fairest, which would draw him level with Buckley's club record.

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It's certainly not beyond the Pies great, given that last year he was selected in the All-Australian team for the sixth time, finished runner-up in Collingwood's best and fairest (it was his 11th top-three placing, a competition-high and equal-fourth in history) and broke club records for both career disposals and career votes in the Brownlow Medal.

If he had his way, the humble, never-content Pendlebury would sidestep the cameras and the limelight and focus solely on his team, just as he admirably tried to do last year when he reached his 300th game in Collingwood's first final. But not even his extraordinary evasive skills will help him escape the accolades that will deservingly flow his way again this season.

Most games at the MCG

Gms

Player

Span

W-L-D

Win %

Finals

GFs

Prem

Ave. disp.

Ave. kicks

Ave. hb

Gls

Career gms

200

Kevin Bartlett (Rich)

1965-83

138-60-2

69

18

7

5

23

21

2

379

403

195*

Scott Pendlebury (Coll)

2006–

117-76-2

60

19

4

1

26

13

13

119

301

186

Dustin Fletcher (Ess)

1993-2015

118-64-4

63

17

3

2

14

11

3

42

400

169

David Neitz (Melb)

1993-2008

87-82-0

51

11

1

0

11

8

3

386

306

165*

Nathan Jones (Melb)

2006–

60-103-2

36

3

0

0

23

12

11

77

286

 

Collingwood - most games

313

Tony Shaw

1978-94

306

Gordon Coventry

1920-37

301*

Scott Pendlebury

2006–

277

Wayne Richardson

1966-78

268

Len Thompson

1965-78

264

Scott Burns

1995-2008

261

Jock McHale

1903-18; 1920

260

Nathan Buckley

1994-2007

258

Dane Swan

2003-16

 

After all these years, Scott Pendlebury is still leading from the front. Picture: AFL Photos
Collingwood - most games as captain or acting captain

161

Nathan Buckley

1998-2007

153

Syd Coventry

1925-34

149*

Scott Pendlebury

2014–

123

Tony Shaw

1987-93

116

Wayne Richardson

1970-75

105

Phonse Kyne

1938-50

104

Nick Maxwell

2007-13

 

Scott Pendlebury is poised to pass coach Nathan Buckley's club record for most games as captain or acting captain. Picture: AFL Photos