MPFNL: Edithvale-Aspendale appoints Kris Pendlebury as playing-coach

Advice from his famous brother convinced a former VFL and EFNL star to take the Edithvale-Aspendale senior coaching job. Here’s how it unfolded.

Kris Pendlebury was captain of Collingwood’s VFL side.

Advice from his famous brother convinced him to do it.

And on Wednesday, Kris Pendlebury, older brother of Collingwood champion Scott, was locked in as head coach of Edithvale-Aspendale in the Mornington Peninsula league.

He will be the Eagles playing-coach for the next two seasons — and he can’t wait.

“The last few years I’ve had an eye as the career was slowly winding down to dip my toe in the coaching waters and in all honesty it was just a great opportunity to jump head first into it so I’m pretty pumped to get the job,’’ Pendlebury said.

It will be Pendlebury’s first senior coaching gig, but he has vast experience as an assistant coach, both at Balwyn and in the VFL with Northern Bullants this year.

“Speaking to my brother (Scott) about it I’ve got ambitions to coach at the highest level I can and his advice was to just jump into a head coaching role,’’ Pendlebury said.

Kris Pendlebury playing with Balwyn. Picture: Chris Eastman

Scott Pendlebury.

“It’s going to be all encompassing…I don’t think I’ll be fully prepared for it but I think I’ve given myself a great launching pad the last 15 years really playing VFL and at Balwyn so I think I’m ready to dip the toe in the water and take that challenge.’’

Pendlebury captained Collingwood’s VFL side, won a best and fairest with the Magpies and made the VFL team of the year.

He then had a storied local career at Balwyn, highlighted by two premierships and making Balwyn’s team of the century.

“Everyone I spoke to at Balwyn said he’s their greatest ever player,” Edithvale-Aspendale football manager Gary Rees said.

Kris Pendlebury in Edi-Asp's jumper. Picture: Facebook

Pendlebury said he’s rarely felt so excited about a football challenge.

“When I told Reesy that I was in, I almost got butterflies in the stomach again,’’ he said.

“I haven’t had that feeling for a long time so that definitely means I’ve made the right decision and I’m really excited to get started.

“We probably won’t start until middle or late November but I’ve already got some ideas in my head for pre season and how we’ll attack it.’’

Pendlebury will play full-back for Edi-Asp and lead its backline. He said his body was in “great nick’’.

“This year my playing was limited to 12 games with my VFL coaching commitments but the body’s fine,’’ he said.

“I’ve looked after myself pretty much since I started at 18 so the body’s in great nick.’’

Pendlebury said he was aiming high, with a premiership in his sights at Edi-Asp.

“It’s obviously a proud club with a successful history,’’ he said.

“The goal will be to win the premiership and get back up to Division 1 but we’ll have to put the right processes and structures in place first… that will be the goal.’’

Edi-Asp was relegated from MPFNL Division 1 in 2022 and this season finished sixth in Division 2 with a 10-8 record.