Scott Pendlebury’s exemplary and virtually unblemished record for on-field indiscretions is under threat after the 427-game veteran was hit with a one-match ban by the AFL’s match review officer.
Collingwood will be forced to challenge a rough conduct charge at the AFL tribunal if they want Pendlebury to escape the first suspension of his career. The 38-year-old is also close to breaking Brent Harvey’s AFL games record.
AFL match review officer Michael Christian offered Pendlebury a one-match ban for a hit on Crow Josh Worrell during Adelaide’s win at the MCG on Saturday night.
Pendlebury made contact with his opponent’s head. Worrell stayed down on the ground for several moments after the bump but eventually got to his feet.
On Sunday afternoon the incident was graded as careless conduct, medium impact, leading to the offer of a one-match suspension.
“I’ve never been to the tribunal, so I don’t know how it happens, how it works,” Pendlebury told Triple M on Sunday during a sometimes light-hearted discussion about his case.
“There’s a good character [clause], isn’t there?
He briefly defended his actions. “I was actually our go-to player off the back of the contest,” Pendlebury said. “I didn’t realise we’d actually even hit. I just sort of took off.”
If the ban stands, Pendlebury will miss Collingwood’s match against GWS on March 27 as the Magpies have a bye in round two. It would also eliminate the possibility of him equalling Harvey’s AFL games record in the blockbuster Anzac Day match against Essendon in round seven.
The Pies have not yet indicated if they will challenge the ban. If they go to the tribunal, Pendlebury’s good record could have an impact on his case.
Under revised AFL guidelines, players do not automatically receive a reduced sanction for a good record. However, “a player with an exemplary record may argue their good record constitutes exceptional and compelling circumstances”.
Pendlebury has a near-perfect record, but the veteran player did escape a suspension in 2025 after receiving a $2500 fine for an open-handed punch to Brisbane’s Lachie Neale’s stomach.
Pendlebury needs five games to equal Harvey’s record of 432 AFL games.
In a separate case, Pendlebury’s fellow veteran Steele Sidebottom has been fined for striking Adelaide’s Hugh Bond. The MRO deemed the incident was careless conduct with low impact and fined the Magpie $2500 ($1500 for an early plea).
Suns’ frenzied start in victory over Eagles
West Coast’s new-look outfit hung tough as a fast-starting Gold Coast dropped off record pace in a 59-point AFL win.
Sunday’s clash at Carrara had all the makings of a rout as the Eagles, who won just once last season, headed east with four fresh-faced debutants to face the red-hot Suns.
And it went to script in the first half, with the hosts piling on goals at will to lead by 62 at the main break and look set to rewrite club scoring records.
But the Eagles, sparked by fiery first-gamer Milan Murdock, responded in a 20.11 (131) to 10.12 (72) loss that will have given coach Andrew McQualter plenty of encouragement.
Christian Petracca dashes away.Credit: via Getty Images
Like last week against Geelong, the Suns threatened to push the margin into triple figures before taking their foot off the gas.
Christian Petracca (23 disposals, four goals) continued his dominating start to life at the Suns with three first-quarter goals while Ben King kicked five majors.
Noah Anderson collected a game-high 34 disposals to go with a goal while Joel Jeffrey (28 disposals) was among the Suns’ best in defence.
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