Latest news with #Pendlebury


West Australian
3 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Fremantle Dockers' Rising Star candidate Murphy Reid humbled by comparisons to Collingwood's Scott Pendlebury
Fremantle forward Murphy Reid says he has been humbled by comparisons to Collingwood superstar Scott Pendlebury following his superb game against West Coast on Saturday. Reid has had an instant impact since joining the Dockers as a first round draft pick but it's been his ability to find space with the ball and use it well that led to teammate Jordan Clark comparing him to Pendlebury in The West Australian on Monday. Reid barracked for Richmond but said he'd always tried to play like Pendlebury. 'Definitely. It's how he's always got time and space,' Reid said. 'He's not the quickest guy but it's how he can avoid tacklers and always hit the right target and bring his teammates into the game. They're some amazing strengths. I'd like to say I try and do that in my game as well. He's someone I looked up to 'It's a fair calibre of player I've got to live up to. It's awesome that I can be even be compared to someone as great as him. 'He's got me in a fair few centimetres and a bit of size. I guess some of my strengths in my composure and what I can do with ball in hand are a bit similar to him. They're probably not to the level of him but there are a couple of similarities there.' Reid has rocketed into second favourite to win the AFL Rising Star award in a season where he has twice kicked four goals in a match. He is vying with Adelaide's Daniel Curtin and Brisbane's Levi Ashcroft for the prestigious award. Caleb Serong, Paul Hasleby and Rhys Palmer all won the Rising Star while playing for Fremantle, while teammates Luke Jackson and Jaeger O'Meara claimed the prize at other clubs, but Reid is doing his best to avoid being caught up in that hype. 'I'm just happy playing in the team and playing my role up forward. Every now and then I get a lick of the ice cream. I'm just having fun and enjoying my footy,' he said. Reid signed a two-year contract extension last month which will keep him at Fremantle until 2029. His girlfriend and best friend have both moved to Perth to give him added support and he will celebrate his birthday with them on Wednesday. Reid has made his name as a half-forward this season but has aspirations to become a midfielder and is doing extra work to prepare for that opportunity. 'The coaches are big on me doing vision with the mids and getting a few centre-bounce hits after training and going to see the mids coach,' he said. 'I'm just keeping that going on in the background because that's a bigger picture thing. I'm mostly working with the forwards for the time being Hopefully in the future you might see me through there.'


West Australian
4 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Fremantle Dockers forward Murphy Reid compared to Collingwood's Scott Pendlebury as Rising Star calls increase
Exciting Fremantle forward Murphy Reid has been compared to 400-game superstar Scott Pendlebury as calls grow for him to win the AFL Rising Star award following a stunning western derby performance on Saturday. Reid finished third in Glendinning-Allan Medal voting behind Hayden Young and Andrew Brayshaw after a superb game where he had 23 disposals, one goal and 15 score involvements. He was the first player to have 15 score involvements in a derby since 2012 when Matt Rosa collected 43 possessions for West Coast. Teammate Jordan Clark said Reid's ability to read the play, create time and make his teammates better reminded him of Pendlebury. 'It sounds like a bit unrealistic comparing him to Scotty Pendlebury but he is a player like that who is not blessed with super speed but he sees the game and is very sharp in his mind,' Clark told The West Australian. 'He sees the game very well and he's very clean. I think he did watch a lot of Scotty Pendlebury growing up, so he's a very classy little player. I think he's got a lovely mix that works for him. 'I don't want to use it loosely and it's probably disrespecting Scotty Pendlebury in a way because he's one of the greatest players in the game. 'But you watch him and he's in positions where you think someone shouldn't get out of that, but he does. He's not a fast bloke, he's not massively built, he's just clever and classy. I think he thinks and sees the game ahead before people see what is going to happen.' Pendlebury is on track to break Brent Harvey's all-time games record next year after playing 419 games. A dual premiership star, Norm Smith medallist, former captain, six-time All-Australian and five-time best and fairest, Pendlebury's skill, composure and ability to get himself out of trouble have made him one of the game's greats. Reid has looked perfectly at home in the AFL since kicking four goals in one quarter on debut against Geelong. He also kicked four goals against Port Adelaide. The Victorian is third favourite with bookmakers to be named the Rising Star behind Adelaide's Daniel Curtin and Brisbane's Levi Ashcroft, but Dockers coach Justin Longmuir said he'd done everything to warrant winning the award. 'If I was picking it, I'd pick him. If you looked at consistency across the course of the year, he would have been the most consistent first-year player,' Longmuir said. Curtin rocketed into favouritism after a huge month for the Crows. He was best on ground against Richmond with 26 possessions and two goals to kick start a wonderful run of form. The West Aussie also had 26 touches and one goal against the Western Bulldogs, then collected 20 possessions and kicked a goal against Gold Coast. He received AFL Coaches' Association votes in all three of those games. Curtin performed well against Port Adelaide on Saturday night too, finishing with 22 possessions and four clearances. Drafted at pick eight in 2023, Curtin had to be patient as the Crows looked for his best position. He was either subbed on or off in four of his seven games last season and played as tall defender or half-back before finding his niche on the wing this season. Ashcroft spent the majority of the season as the favourite after stepping straight into Brisbane's team during their premiership defence. He had 25 possessions on debut and was influential in the first QClash of the season with 29 disposals. Ashcroft is averaging 19.5 touches and 1.8 clearances per game while also kicking 10 goals for the season. But after making a splash on debut, it's been Reid's consistency that has been the hallmark of his game. The young Docker has had more disposals than Curtin, kicked more goals, had more score involvements and only slightly trails the Crow for tackles and clearances. Reid is on the verge of becoming the first Docker to kick 20 goals, have 20 goal assists and 100 score involvements since Matthew Pavlich in 2015. He currently has 19 goals, 17 goal assists and 106 score involvements with four home-and-away games remaining and the possibility of finals. Only Andrew Brayshaw, Shai Bolton and Caleb Serong have had more score involvements than Reid at Fremantle this season and the Dockers were thrilled when he signed a new contract until the end of 2029. The Dockers selected Reid at pick 17 in last year's national draft after watching him excelling for Sandringham Dragons. He spent time in the midfield during the pre-season but quickly showed his talent as a forward which has allowed him to become an important part of the team. While his class has shone out, Glendinning-Allan medallist Hayden Young said it was only a matter of time before Reid becomes a midfielder and plays alongside himself, Brayshaw and Serong in the centre-square rotation. 'He's got beautiful touch, he's super elusive and he's a very crafty player,' Young said. 'I thought he was outstanding for a bloke who's not that big. He's very hard to tackle. 'He's going to be a great player for us and I'm really happy with the brand of footy he's playing at the moment. Hopefully he can keep developing. I'd love to see him get through the midfield in the years to come.'


7NEWS
15-07-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Kane Cornes questions Collingwood veterans for ‘selfish' management: ‘Why hasn't he had a rest?'
Some of Collingwood's biggest names have been accused of playing for 'selfish reasons', as questions have emerged over the club's management of its veteran players. Eyebrows were raised on Friday night when veteran star Scott Pendlebury was started as the sub during the team's loss to Gold Coast, with many thinking it was strange not to give the 37-year-old veteran a proper week off (if they thought he wasn't up for a full game). Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Of course, Pendlebury watched on as Collingwood went goalless in the first half, but helped give the Pies a healthy pulse when he was eventually injected into play. Collingwood have been applauded for the management of some of their players, but leading AFL commentator Kane Cornes has noted that there are seemingly different strokes for different folks. Elliott, 32, is having a sensational year and sits joint third in Coleman Medal race with 44 goals (along with Ben King, nine behind leader Jeremy Cameron). Crisp, 31, broke the consecutive games record of 245 this year and his streak is still going eight games later (at the time of writing). 'I've got a theory that some players are playing for selfish reasons,' Cornes said on Monday night on Channel 7's The Agenda Setters. 'I put this on the agenda with Jack Crisp last week, and the fact that he's nearly 32 and the only player — along with Jamie Elliott — not to have a rest above the age of 30. (I think that's) because of the consecutive games record. 'So (Crisp) continues to play and Elliott's the other one, I question whether Elliott is playing for an All-Australian blazer and ... Coleman, or is he playing for a premiership? 'Why hasn't he had a rest?' Cornes pointed to Elliott's past with the star forward having some lengthy battles with injuries and back issues. 'So why are others resting? Why are others getting managed but those two aren't?' he asked. He also thought the decision to start Pendlebury as a 'sub' was a strange. 'Pendlebury is the other one. If you if you're playing Pendlebury, you're playing him, if not, he's staying at home with his family on the couch,' Cornes said. 'Now is that because there's a game's record to be broken in time, and you still get the game as sub? 'And then there's Nick Daicos. Nick is sore, clearly sore and has been throughout the year. 'Is he playing for a Brownlow? 'My theory is that those players are not being managed to get themselves right to win a second or a third premiership in Pendlebury's case. Are they playing for individual reasons more so than getting themselves right when they need to be right (in September)?' AFL great Nick Riewoldt, however, did not subscribe to the 'theory', calling it a 'bad take'. 'The Crisp one, he is the guy that has thrived with continuity ... that's why he's continued to play, because of the continuity. So, OK, so he gets a tick,' Riewoldt said. 'Jamie Elliott has never had continuity. Now he has it, why would you not try and milk it?' Cornes was quick to respond, saying it could be a risk to keep playing him as it had been in the past. But Cornes wanted to know why some veterans such as Steele Sidebottom, Brody Mihocek and Dan McStay had been managed throughout the year, and others hadn't. Riewoldt said he agreed with the take on, Pendlebury, however. 'Pendlebury is the one that I tend to agree with where, you know, do you really need to travel and be the sub,' he said. Host Craig Hutchison said Pendlebury may not have played, even if he was the sub, if Collingwood were comfortable ahead throughout the game. 'They would have preferred to get some rest in,' Hutchison said. 'I don't think Scott Pendlebury is a guy that says you can't rest me because I'm going after a record. He's gonna get the record anyway.' Riewoldt said this was a selfless group that had 'oozed team' more than any other in the competition, and Hutchison said Cornes' 'theory' might just add to their 'hungry', 'ruthless' resolve.


7NEWS
28-06-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Collingwood veteran Scott Pendlebury seals victory over West Coast with another rare goal celebration
Collingwood veteran Scott Pendlebury has unveiled a new celebration after another rare goal in the win over West Coast. The ageless warrior was among his side's best in the hard-fought victory, racking up 28 touches, nine clearances and six tackles. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Scott Pendlebury drops new celebration after rare goal. He capped off his performance with a brilliant goal on the run in the final minute to put the rubber stamp on the 29-point victory. After kicking the goal, Pendlebury wheeled away and pretended to put a helmet on before swiping an imaginary lightsaber. It followed on from last week when he pretended to play the piano, which he later said was a tribute to his daughter Darcy. Speaking after the match, Pendlebury said he wanted to make both his children happy. 'Jax wanted a lightsaber, is that what it's called from Star Wars, and Darcy wanted me to put a helmet on, so I combined the two so they're both happy tomorrow morning,' he told Fox Footy. 'I don't usually kick many goals so these celebrations are rare.' The bottom-of-the-ladder Eagles travelled to Marvel Stadium in Melbourne on Saturday night as the rankest outsider of the season. With a 1-14 record and missing a stack of experienced talent, West Coast led the red-hot Magpies at quarter-time and half-time. But Collingwood managed 8.5 to 2.4 in the second half, setting up the 13.10 (88) to 8.11 (59) win in Brody Mihocek's 150th game. Collingwood's seventh straight win was probably their least convincing of the season, often outworked around the contest. Only the Eagles' lack of polish and experience stopped the result from being even closer. Forward Jack Williams sprayed a set shot from 35m out at the start of the final term that would have reduced the margin to four points if he had slotted it. That poor finish came after Williams had inexplicably decided to launch a kick from West Coast's defensive 50 in the dying seconds of the third term, landing straight in the lap of Collingwood superboot Dan Houston. As he often does, Houston kicked truly from outside 50m to give the Magpies a major boost on the stroke of three-quarter time. Nick Daicos, who went without a hard tag after tactics to quieten the Magpies superstar became a major story during the week, was typically influential with 34 touches and a classy running goal. Veteran defender Jeremy Howe was superb, cutting off a number of West Coast forward entries. Liam Baker was the Eagles' most prolific ball-winner with 35 possessions, while Brady Hough impressed with 27 touches and a goal. Both teams had an eye-catching debutant, with highly touted Collingwood forward Charlie West slotting a goal with his first kick, before being subbed off in the final quarter. Jobe Shanahan looks capable of filling the role of injured co-captain Oscar Allen, who is set to join the Brisbane Lions in the off-season. A rangy key forward, Shanahan's first goal came from a tricky set shot.

The Age
21-06-2025
- Business
- The Age
Why two of Collingwood's modern-day greats aren't even earning the average AFL player wage
Loading Collingwood greats Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom are playing for less than the AFL's average wage for a senior-listed player this year, in what has become a major benefit to the premiership favourites. Pendlebury, 37, and Sidebottom, 34, are contracted for deals in the range of $400,000 in 2025, plus the normal bonuses players can receive for best and fairest finishes and All-Australian selection, according to industry sources familiar with the outline of the super veterans' 2025 deals. Even if either earned best and fairest or All-Australian bonuses, Pendlebury and Sidebottom would still fall short of the $500,771 that is the average for an AFL senior-listed player (not including rookie list players) in 2025. Like Sidebottom, match-winning forward Jamie Elliott, 32, has been in near-career peak form this year – sitting third on the AFL goalkicking table – and is being paid well below his level of performance, relative to the competition. To place Pendlebury's and Sidebottom's deals for this year in perspective, collectively they are paid close to half the amount offered to Carlton's Tom De Koning, by St Kilda, on an annual basis, should the free-agent ruckman take up the Saints' monstrous long-term offer of $1.7 million a year. The Magpies have indicated a wish to retain Pendlebury and Sidebottom, along with Elliott, in 2026. Assuming a reasonable run with injury, Pendlebury (414 games) would break the AFL games record of 432 held by Brent Harvey next year, should he sign on, as now appears likely, for a 21st season. Defender Jeremy Howe, too, is reportedly favoured to be offered a contract. That Pendlebury, Sidebottom, Elliott and Howe have been able to perform at high levels, despite being well into their 30s, has been of benefit to the ladder leaders, who had enough space in their salary cap to acquire Dan Houston from Port Adelaide and Harry Perryman from Greater Western Sydney.