Scott Pendlebury

Scott Pendlebury
Personal information
Full name	Scott Pendlebury
Date of birth	7 January 1988 (1988-01-07)
Place of birth	Sale, Victoria
Original team	Sale / Gippsland Power
Draft	5th overall, 2005 AFL Draft
Height/Weight	191 cm / 91 kg
Position(s)	Midfield
Club information
Current club	Collingwood
Number	10
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2006–	Collingwood	127 (84)
International team honours
Years	Team	Games (Goals)
2008	Australia	2 (0)
1 Playing statistics to end of 2011 season .
Career highlights
AFL 2004 AFL Rising Star nominee, Rd 4 Norm Smith Medal 2010 All-Australian Team 2010, 2011 ANZAC Day Medal 2010, 2011 Collingwood Football Club R.T. Rush Trophy 2007 Copeland Trophy 2011

Scott Pendlebury (born 7 January 1988) is a professional Australian rules football player who plays for the Collingwood Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Early life

Originally from Sale, Pendlebury began his sporting career in basketball and accepted a scholarship to the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. However, he decided to make a return to competitive football and was selected for the 2005 Under-18 Vic Country team. He played two of the three games, and amassed an average of 17 possessions.

He was selected to play for eventual 2005 TAC Cup premiers Gippsland Power. He played 19 games, kicked 11 goals and averaged 22 possessions a game. Collingwood came across Pendlebury after Gippsland Power manager Peter Francis recommended both Pendlebury and his older brother Kristopher. Collingwood drafted Pendlebury with pick five in the 2005 AFL Draft, and Collingwood's number two pick overall.

AFL career

Pendlebury has been described as possessing exceptional class and poise. He is a natural left-footer, and rarely wastes a possession, and has excellent vision that has been attributed to his years in basketball. He has also been likened to St Kilda midfielder Nick Dal Santo, with his balance and agility in packs making him almost impossible to tackle.

2006

Pendlebury's 2006 pre-season was hampered by glandular fever, but he made a successful comeback with Collingwood's VFL affiliation in Williamstown. He made his AFL debut in Round 10 against the Brisbane Lions, and became part of a select group of footballers known for kicking their first goal with their first kick in league football. He played eight more promising games, including a spectacular basketball-esque 'steal' from former Sydney player Paul Williams.

2007

Pendlebury began his 2007 season by moving to the number 10 guernsey, previously worn by Blake Caracella, and giving his number 16 guernsey to newcomer Nathan Brown. Following his nine games in 2006, Pendlebury broke into the Collingwood midfield on a regular basis, averaging 18 disposals a game before he was nominated for the NAB Rising Star in Round 4. He became one of Collingwood's most well-known players and one of their best midfielders. He collected a season-high 26 possessions in the 2007 Semi-Final against the West Coast Eagles in Perth, as well as kicking a crucial goal during extra time.

Throughout the 2007 season, he was compared with Geelong rookie midfielder Joel Selwood. Both were close favourites for the 2007 NAB Rising Star, with Selwood eventually claiming the honour over Pendlebury by seven votes.

Pendlebury suffered an ankle injury in the opening minutes of Collingwood's Round 17 loss against Brisbane. However, he managed to return after only two weeks.

Pendlebury also placed second in the 2007 Copeland Trophy behind Travis Cloke.

2008

Pendlebury was voted into Collingwood's five-man leadership group as deputy vice-captain preceding the 2008 season. He was also named in Mike Sheehan's Top 50 AFL Players at #42.

Highlights of Pendlebury's season thus far include amassing 33 disposals against Essendon on ANZAC Day and placing a close second behind Paul Medhurst for the Anzac Day medal.

On 9 May 2008, Pendlebury was selected in the Victorian Squad for the AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match, with team-mates Josh Fraser and Heath Shaw. Despite playing only half of the match, he collected 19 disposals with a 79% efficiency rating. He later stated that, "It was a very special time ... just to meet the players, and be amongst them ... just being out there and playing a half decent game gives me confidence."

Pendlebury was an important factor in Collingwood's 86-point victory over reigning premiers Geelong. His early tackle and subsequent free kick on Geelong defender Matthew Scarlett was merely the beginning of Collingwood's intense tackling pressure throughout the game, and he later stated that, "our tackling pressure was what we were renowned for last year, and I think it was the first time we've shown it this year."

Pendlebury played his 50th game on 9 August 2008 against St Kilda in Round 19. He finished third in Collingwood's 2008 Best and Fairest count.

2009

Pendlebury became more prominent in 2009. He collected a career high 39 disposals against Melbourne Football Club on the Queens Birthday and won the Women's Round medal. He had a career high 22 kicks against the West Coast Eagles and another career high 20 handballs against the Richmond Football Club. He is regarded as Dane Swan's main challenger for Collingwood's best and fairest award. Despite missing a few games due to injuries, he was still shortlisted for selection as an All-Australian and has been nominated as Collingwood's third best player. He had an average of 26 disposals a game (13 kicks and 13 handballs)and averaged 2 goals per 5 games. He is considered to be one of the best midfielders in the Collingwood side. His season ended with a cracked fibula bone injury in the Qualifying final.

Pendlebury polled 13 votes in the 2009 Brownlow Medal, the top ranked Collingwood player.

2010

In 2010 Pendlebury won a spot in the All-Australian team and won the ANZAC Medal. He polled 21 votes in the 2010 Brownlow Medal, to finish in fourth position. He won the 2010 Norm Smith medal when Collingwood won the premiership.

2011

In 2011 Pendlebury won his second ANZAC Day Medal as best-on-ground in Collingwood's 30-point win over Essendon. Three weeks later, against Geelong, he was controversially denied a goal from a free kick that would have won Collingwood the game. Ultimately, the Magpies lost by three points.

He capped off a brilliant year, winning the Copeland Trophy for the best and fairest player at Collingwood, and the Bob Rose Trophy for being the best Collingwood player through out the finals.

In the Brownlow he polled 24 votes to finish equal third behind winner Dane Swan, Sam Mitchell (disqualified) and Nick Dal Santo.

Personal life

Pendlebury was born and raised in Sale, Victoria. He attended Catholic College Sale. He played alongside Dale Thomas, Tyson Goldsack and Brent Macaffer at the Gippsland Power before all getting drafted to Collingwood. Pendlebury's older brother Kris plays for Collingwood VFL Football Club affiliation team as a rookie-listed player, and previously played for Essendon's VFL affiliation Bendigo Bombers.

External links

• Scott Pendlebury profile on the Official AFL Website of the Collingwood Football Club
• Scott Pendlebury's statistics from AFL Tables