Scott Pendlebury on track to play 400th game in MCG blockbuster against arch rival Carlton

If you thought Dustin Martin’s 300th game was big — just wait for Scott Pendlebury’s 400th. As GLENN MCFARLANE reports, Pendles’ milestone could break the record for biggest home-and-away crowd in AFL history.

Glenn McFarlane

@MaccaHeraldSun

2 min read

June 28, 2024 - 6:00AM

News Sport Network

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 30: Scott Pendlebury of the Magpies celebrates a goal during the 2023 AFL Grand Final match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Brisbane Lions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 30, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

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Scott Pendlebury’s much anticipated 400th game could be played before one of the biggest home and away crowds in VFL-AFL history with his return from injury this week putting him on track to reach the milestone in round 21 against old rivals Carlton.

Pendlebury, 36, has recovered from a partial tendon tear in his left bicep and will play his 395th game against Gold Coast on Saturday.

If he plays the next six games in a row, it would set up a mouth-watering clash between two of footy’s oldest rivals at the MCG on August 3, with the clubs currently sitting second and fourth on the AFL ladder right now.

Collingwood and Carlton attracted a crowd of 88,362 fans in round 9 this year – a record for home and away matches played between the clubs.

Scott Pendlebury is on track to play his 400th game against Carlton. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

But with both sides humming in the rundown to September – having not played each other in a final since 1988 – and with Pendlebury on track to become only the sixth player to reach 400 games, the Herald Sun understands a crowd of 95,000 is already being anticipated for round 21.

That would be rarefied air for a home-and-away attendance, with only two other regular season crowds drawing in excess of 95,000 – with 99,256 fans watching Collingwood and Melbourne in 1956 and 95,179 attending Collingwood and Essendon on Anzac Day last year.

The original Collingwood and Essendon Anzac Day clash in 1995 ranks third with 94,825.

It would be a fitting result for Pendlebury, who is already the most watched player in history.

Carlton and Collingwood hold the record for the biggest crowd in VFL-AFL history, with 121,796 fans attending the 1970 grand final. But the two clubs playing against each other have never drawn a home and away crowd of 90,000 or more.

Scott Pendlebury’s 400th game promises to be one of the biggest crowds on record. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Pendlebury has enjoyed a mid-season freshen up as he recovered from his injury, having not played since the club’s draw with Fremantle back in round 11.

His mind is far from his 400-game milestone, preferring to think more of Collingwood’s quest for what would be a record-breaking 17th premiership rather than anything else.

But the Magpies are ramping up their preparations for Pendlebury’s milestone moment, knowing it could be only six weeks away if he has some luck with his body.

It is understood Collingwood has already been in communication with the five other players to reach 400 VFL-AFL games – Brent Harvey (432), Michael Tuck (426), Shaun Burgoyne (407), Kevin Bartlett (403) and Dustin Fletcher (400).

Magpies officials have been working hard on a range of initiatives to mark Pendlebury’s impending milestone, while remaining cognisant that he still has six matches to reach the figure.

Incredibly, Collingwood has never had a 400-game player, despite the Magpies playing more games than any other VFL-AFL clubs.