Pendlebury - We are Witnessing Greatness

[South of the Yarra]

As a young man I sat in awe in the Sherrin Stand and listened to the stories of my Foster Grandparents as they mesmerised us with stories of the brilliance of Dick Lee and how he stood above all others. The tales of glory days would quickly turn to the Machine Team and the relentless leadership of Syd Coventry, the dominance of the Bradman of the Football Field, Gordon Coventry and the skill and toughness of the most ruthless player to play the game in Albert Collier. The man my Nan said was the greatest of them all, a player that Jack Dyer said was a 'God who walked amongst men'. My Foster Dad and Mum told me of the wizard called Fothergill, the goal kicking machine Todd and the man my Dad said was better than them all, that gentleman of all gentleman Bob Rose. I went to training at Victoria Park and was honoured each week to talk to the Prince of Full Backs Jack Regan and that mighty little rover Harry Collier. Never forgetting the moment that Jack Regan carried me down the rooms. Etched in my Black and White heart.

I saw John Greening do things that others could not, moments of brilliance that Ablett Snr could not replicate. Tearing apart games like no one had before. Only an act of cowardice robbing us of the perhaps the greatest footballer to walk the face of the Earth. I watched Carman bedazzle us and frustrate us at the same time, like Greening before him, doing things that no others could. Tom Hafey once telling me that he coached Royce Hart, Ablett Snr, Daicos Snr and Diesel Wiliams and not one of them had anywhere near the talent of Fabulous Phil.
We were spellbound by the mastery of a kid called Daicos who captivated the entire crowd with his magic, mesmerising us week in week out with his brilliance. Leading us out of the wilderness and to the 1990 promised land. Then Buckley, relentless in his desire to succeed, willing himself to greatness and picking an entire club up on his back and carrying them to within in an inch of the ultimate glory.

But now are we seeing the greatest of them all in Scott Pendlebury

10

Scott Pendlebury

Age

38

Ht

191cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

26.5

5star

K

13.2

5star

HB

13.3

5star

M

4.1

4star

T

4.9

5star

CL

4.9

5star

D

25.1

5star

K

12.3

5star

HB

12.9

5star

M

3.4

3star

T

2.3

3star

CL

3.6

4star

D

12.4

4star

K

7.6

3star

HB

4.8

4star

M

5.8

5star

T

2.6

4star

. Sustained brilliance over 432 games, playing at the highest level longer than anyone in the history of the game. Closing in on 40 and still controlling his orchestra with time, space and brilliance. One day it will be our kids and grandkids sitting in the stands of the G, dreaming of days gone by, saying Grandpa / Grandma did you see Pendles play. With time to look back and time to reflect, your answer may very well be, yes, I saw the greatest Magpie of them all.

 

[Matrix10]

As a young man I sat in awe in the Sherrin Stand and listened to the stories of my Foster Grandparents as they mesmerised us with stories of the brilliance of Dick Lee and how he stood above all others. The tales of glory days would quickly turn to the Machine Team and the relentless leadership of Syd Coventry, the dominance of the Bradman of the Football Field, Gordon Coventry and the skill and toughness of the most ruthless player to play the game in Albert Collier. The man my Nan said was the greatest of them all, a player that Jack Dyer said was a 'God who walked amongst men'. My Foster Dad and Mum told me of the wizard called Fothergill, the goal kicking machine Todd and the man my Dad said was better than them all, that gentleman of all gentleman Bob Rose. I went to training at Victoria Park and was honoured each week to talk to the Prince of Full Backs Jack Regan and that mighty little rover Harry Collier. Never forgetting the moment that Jack Regan carried me down the rooms. Etched in my Black and White heart.

I saw John Greening do things that others could not, moments of brilliance that Ablett Snr could not replicate. Tearing apart games like no one had before. Only an act of cowardice robbing us of the perhaps the greatest footballer to walk the face of the Earth. I watched Carman bedazzle us and frustrate us at the same time, like Greening before him, doing things that no others could. Tom Hafey once telling me that he coached Royce Hart, Ablett Snr, Daicos Snr and Diesel Wiliams and not one of them had anywhere near the talent of Fabulous Phil.
We were spellbound by the mastery of a kid called Daicos who captivated the entire crowd with his magic, mesmerising us week in week out with his brilliance. Leading us out of the wilderness and to the 1990 promised land. Then Buckley, relentless in his desire to succeed, willing himself to greatness and picking an entire club up on his back and carrying them to within in an inch of the ultimate glory.

But now are we seeing the greatest of them all in Scott Pendlebury. Sustained brilliance over 432 games, playing at the highest level longer than anyone in the history of the game. Closing in on 40 and still controlling his orchestra with time, space and brilliance. One day it will be our kids and grandkids sitting in the stands of the G, dreaming of days gone by, saying Grandpa / Grandma did you see Pendles play. With time to look back and time to reflect, your answer may very well be, yes, I saw the greatest Magpie of them all.

Absolutely brilliant SOTY. So eloquently described, had a tear or two .

 

[manicmagpie]

From game 50 through to game 432 Pendles barely has a quiet game. There’s genuinely only a few where he was injured mid game and probably about a dozen or so where he drops below 20 possessions with almost no games below 17.

It’s an astonishing run of consistent high standard games that no one in the history of the game has been close to.

I remember watching Pendles make time stand still yet again one day and promising to myself that I’d make a conscious effort to appreciate watching him play while I could, knowing that he was getting old in footballing terms and he might be finishing up soon. That was probably at least 8 years ago now.

 

[gouki88]

The way stories of players and teams from times gone by lives on through inter generational storytelling is a much, much better way to talk about historic players than the obsession many have with who would/wouldn’t be able to play when.

Thanks for the post

 

[South of the Yarra]

Absolutely brilliant SOTY. So eloquently described, had a tear or two .

Thank you, appreciate the kind words. Go Pies.

 

[Daicos Torpedo]

Thanks for your great memories. My Pa talked about the same generation. Thorold Merret was his all time favorite amongst a very big field of Victoria Park legendary players.
Pendles has to be a podium player. Perhaps the best.
I still marvel at his time and space play in the same way as Daicos Snr.

 

[Rail King]

We are certainly seeing the most consistently excellent magpie of all time.
For me Len Thompson 1977 and Peter Daicos 1990 reign supreme as Collingwood footballers, but Pendlebury is right in the mix for the best of them all.

 

[Not a mere cat]

I hope you don’t mind the intrusion. I was going to post on the main board but didn’t want to add to that cess pit thread where oppos are whinging about how terrible it is that Collingwood have the temerity to celebrate this wonderful achievement. Peak BF

Congratulations to Pendles on breaking the games record, happy that boomer hands the record to him. A great player to watch, classy, consistent and fair.