Scott Pendlebury reveals he has secured another contract to push his career into a 20th season

Scott Pendlebury’s AFL career is heading to a 20th year as the Magpie confirms he has secured a contract extension on the eve of his 400th game.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 28: Scott Pendlebury of the Magpies in action during the 2024 AFL Round 20 match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Richmond Tigers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 28, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Milestone Magpie Scott Pendlebury has secured a contract that will put him into a 20th AFL season.

Arguably the greatest Collingwood player ever, Pendlebury will be the first Pie to hit 400 games, when his team meets arch rival Carlton in a must-win clash.

Collingwood coach Craig McRae said last week that talks were fluid with Pendlebury, and fellow veterans Jeremy Howe and Steele Sidebottom, but Pendlebury has revealed a new contract for 2025 was “all locked away”.

This masthead revealed in May that Pendlebury was set to carry on next year and deep in talks on a new deal.

Scott Pendlebury celebrates the Pies win in game 399 with his children. Picture: Mark Stewart

Pendlebury, 36, will become the sixth player in VFL/AFL history to hit the 400 gam threshold and will equal Dustin Fletcher in equal-fifth on Saturday against the Blues.

Richmond legend Kevin Bartlett (403 games) sits next.

By playing into 2025, Pendlebury will pass Shaun Burgoyne (407), with only Michael Tuck (426) and Brent Harvey (432) above that.

Pendlebury would need to play on into 2026 to break Harvey’s record but he said he would not be putting the games record before Collingwood’s needs.

“I know that I am probably on the back three of the golf course, probably the back two,” he told SEN.

“If I do happen to get there it will be because the football club believes it is the best thing to do but it’s not one where I am going to put myself ahead of the club and try and get there for my own personal goals.”

Howe, 34, is due to secure a contract for next season against the Blues, when he ticks off a 16-game trigger.

Sidebottom, 33, has said he is keen to play on but talks have been steady with the winger.

Originally published as Scott Pendlebury reveals he has secured another contract to push his career into a 20th season