Scott Pendlebury loves being Collingwood captain and wants to keep job in 2018

SOME are suggesting it might be time the Pies made a change to their leadership. But Scott Pendlebury has made it clear he still wants to be the main man.

Collingwood's Steele Sidebottom. Pic: Michael Klein

COLLINGWOOD skipper Scott Pendlebury won’t be stepping aside as skipper, declaring he loves the role and is confident his club is on the right path to success.

Speaking on the Gold Coast where the Pies are enjoying a six-day camp focusing on footy and leadership, Pendlebury said he wouldn’t be giving up the captaincy.

The star midfielder is tipped to retain the job but the Pies’ leadership model came into focus this week when former AFL great Garry Lyon and former coach Grant Thomas suggested Collingwood and Pendlebury could both benefit from a change.

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But Pendlebury said he loved spearheading the Pies’ leadership group.

“Absolutely (I want to be captain), if I could do it my way, if I could do the whole vote I would stay captain,” Pendlebury said.

“I love the job ... I love the group of guys, we’ve got a great bunch and I think we’re capable of something pretty special.”

Pendlebury said he understood comments made by the former greats on Melbourne radio but said the only way he’d be giving up the role was if the club wanted a change.

“If they (Pies officials) thought there was someone else then I’d gladly step aside,” he said.

“By the same token if they want me to stay, I love doing the job and I love leading this football club, leading this group of guys ... My focus is just on this group, trying to get us as good as we can be and hit 2018 full of steam.”

Steele Sidebottom signs autographs for fans in Southport on Wednesday. Picture: Jerad Williams

Steele Sidebottom, vice-captain last season, also backed his leader to remain skipper, saying on Wednesday he didn’t expect to see any change “not only this year, but in the next couple of years”.

Thomas, who famously initiated a rotating captaincy during his time in charge of St Kilda, hinted a similar model might help Collingwood.

“When you’ve got one single leader, it’s great for that leader and he’s a good leader, but he’s not going to change anything,” Thomas said.

“I like to see a broader leadership front, rather than a singular leadership front.”

Scott Pendlebury trains during the pre-season. Picture: Jay Town