Scott Pendlebury spending more time forward for Collingwood could be what again elevates his game

COULD spending more time up forward be the move that takes Scott Pendlebury’s game to a new level?

David King. Fox Footy publicity shot, by John Tsiavis.

SCOTT Pendlebury is the heart and soul of Collingwood.

Only once in the last eight years has Pendlebury finished outside of the top three in the best and fairest, with his brilliance, consistency and durability proving remarkable. He’s on track for his fourth Copeland Trophy, too — his third in succession.

Pendlebury is already an elite player across the competition, only a rung down from Gary Ablett Jr but recently surpassed by Nathan Fyfe. There’s no questioning his credentials, but what’s missing?

Only once in Pendlebury’s 10-year career has he produced more than 20 goals in a season.

Ablett has fallen short of that mark only three times in 14 seasons and Fyfe slotted 24 goals last year and is on track for 20-plus again in 2015.

Pendlebury could be Collingwood’s next best full-forward behind Travis Cloke. Coach Nathan Buckley has flirted with Pendlebury deep forward in the past fortnight and it could just be the spark that ignites this impotent Magpies forward line.

Scott Pendlebury is dangerous in the midfield and now up forward, too. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Collingwood’s forward 50m has underachieved since 2012. The Pies have ranked 11th, 13th and 14th in the comp for converting inside 50m entries into scores over the past three years.

Something needs to change. Buckley has an asset he must maximise.

BUCKLEY: New-look Cats still a threat

Cloke has been targeted inside 50m 36 times for a 44 per cent scoring return. Jesse White has been found 31 times for a 42 per cent return, while Jamie Elliott has turned 33 per cent of his 24 opportunities into scores.

Pendlebury? The captain has only been targeted eight times, but is going at 88 per cent. His magnet must be stuck in the forward line more often on Buckley’s whiteboard.

A midfield decimated through injury hasn’t allowed Buckley this luxury. But when Steele Sidebottom, Levi Greenwood and co. return from injury it’s essential Buckley explores this option.

Pendlebury is averaging 30 disposals this season, 14 of those coming forward of centre, but only three inside 50m. With the exception of ruckmen, no-one in the game has played more midfield minutes in 2015 than Pendlebury, whose spent more than 95 per cent of his game time on-ball.

Scott Pendlebury kicks a goal against the Blues last Friday night. Picture: Mchael Klein

Fyfe has an 86 per cent-14 per cent midfield/forward balance and last season, Ablett spent 12 per cent of his games in the forward line to kick 24 goals. Sydney’s Luke Parker is almost 80:20.

Regardless of Buckley’s reasoning, it appears Pendlebury playing forward is the Ferrari that’s been kept in the garage.

After team success comes the ultimate individual prize — the Brownlow Medal. If Pendlebury can sign-off on a 30-plus goal season the reality is the votes will flow, while the Pies may win one or two more games in the process. While this isn’t a concern for Buckley, it’s a huge carrot for Pendlebury.

Dane Swan and Pendlebury could be used similarly to Trent Cotchin and Dustin Martin, who have employed an on-ball and full-forward rotation to maximise their ground time and team strike power.

The other beneficiary of Pendlebury playing forward more would be Elliott, as most opposition teams have one quality small defender, but seldom two.

Jamie Elliott could be even more dangerous if playing at times, alongside Pendlebury inside 50m. Photo: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Elliott has already delivered back-to-back 30-plus goal seasons in 2013-14. Corey Gault is yet to take a mark when engaged in a one-on-one and his opponent often becomes a third-man-up defender against Cloke.

Pendlebury is a goal square match-up nightmare given his size, agility and composure in traffic. Not to mention his finishing skill.

He is one of the game’s very best players and his output week in, week out cannot be questioned but would Buckley and his crew prefer 30 possessions or 22 possessions and two goals?

Players of Pendlebury’s ilk thrive on the challenge to improve, not that there’s much scope given the left-footer’s standing in the game.

Pendlebury will prove a better commodity in the forward 50m than Fyfe as the season unfolds and this may just decide the 2015 Brownlow Medal.