Collingwood’s Scott Pendlebury breaks 15-year AFL record

Collingwood veteran Scott Pendlebury has broken a longstanding AFL record in more proof the silky Magpie is ageing like a fine wine.

Scott Pendlebury is an AFL record holder. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Collingwood veteran Scott Pendlebury has broken the record for the most disposals in V/AFL history during Thursday night’s clash with the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium.

The Magpies defeated the Bulldogs 13.11 (89) to 11.11 (77) to claim their 14th win of the season and stay on top of the ladder.

Pendlebury needed 13 disposals to surpass St Kilda legend Robert Harvey’s longstanding mark of 9656 disposals, and he reached that tally midway through the third quarter with a kick in Collingwood’s back half.

He finished with 21 disposals to take his overall tally to 9665.

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James Brayshaw said in commentary on Channel 7: “He’s possessed the Sherrin more times than anyone in the history of our game.

The 35-year-old now stands clear at the top of the list, ahead of legends including Harvey, Brent Harvey, Kevin Bartlett and Gary Ablett Jnr.

No man has touched the Sherrin more times than Scott Pendlebury (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The disposals record hasn’t been broken since Robert Harvey retired in 2008.

It’s yet another accolade on Pendlebury’s glittering CV that features five Magpies best and fairests, six All Australian blazers, and a Norm Smith medal.

Most disposals in V/@AFL games
9,657 - SCOTT PENDLEBURY
9,656 - Robert Harvey
9,212 - Brent Harvey
9,151 - Kevin Bartlett
8,896 - Gary Ablett jnr

@CollingwoodFC#AFLDogsPies

— Swamp (@sirswampthing) July 7, 2023

The most disposals of any player, ever.

Take a bow @sp_10 🤩#AFLDogsPiespic.twitter.com/QfqgkCXgNO

— AFL (@AFL) July 7, 2023

Along with Steele Sidebottom, Pendlebury is one of just two current Collingwood players who played in the club’s last premiership in 2010.

Sitting on top of the ladder heading to the pointy end of the season, Pendlebury will be hoping the disposals record isn’t the last achievement he notches up this year.

With his 373rd game, Pendlebury has also moved into the top 10 for the most games played in V/AFL history.

Last month the 35-year-old signed a one-year contract extension, meaning he could become just the sixth player to reach the 400-game milestone some time in 2024.

The Bulldogs dominated the early exchanges, with small forward Cody Weightman kicking two goals in the first quarter.

But three majors to Jamie Elliott saw the Magpies fight back and close the deficit to five points at halftime, before a six-goal third quarter put Collingwood in front and they never looked back.

Originally published as Collingwood’s Scott Pendlebury breaks 15-year AFL record