Nathan Buckley says he is rapt about Scott Pendleburyโs late-career shift from Collingwood to Gold Coast, declaring that by making such a move now the AFLโs games record holder will be โsuper readyโ for his next AFL career step.
Collingwood great Buckley โ who coached Pendlebury between 2012 and 2021, a large portion of which Pendlebury was Pies captain โ said the 442-game AFL veteran would have made the best decision โbased on all the available evidenceโ. Pendlebury has decided to accept a four-year contract from the Suns, which will include two years as a player and two as a coach.
There are options for that deal to be modified if Pendlebury cannot see out the term on the field. He will be 40 by the end of the two-year playing contract.
โHeโs not going to be a player forever, and this is the perfect lead-in to whatever aspirations he has beyond that,โ Buckley said on Fox Footyโs On The Couch on Monday night.
โIโm rapt to see him move out of Collingwood, go to another environment, learn more there, and be super ready to take whatever the next steps are.โ
Pendleburyโs management and Collingwood boss Craig Kelly are in discussions for the dual premiership player and five-time Copeland Trophy winner to be paraded at a Magpies home game early next season at a time that also suits his new club. The Pies will also pay tribute to him at their best-and-fairest function.
Buckley backed Pendleburyโs decision to reveal his decision on Saturday morning โ after their season ended with a wildcard final loss to the Western Bulldogs. Collingwood supporters farewelled fellow club great Steele Sidebottom, but they โ and Pendleburyโs teammates โ were left in the dark about his move.
โHe was commiserating with his teammates after the siren,โ Buckley said. โI guarantee you none of them would have been aware of what was going on at that point because you do hold your counsel until the appropriate time, and the appropriate time was on the Saturday morning.โ
Buckley said Pendlebury would continue to be an on-field asset for Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick.
โIโve got no doubt that it looked like he was sore as the year went on,โ he said.
โBut whatโs to say that that wasnโt a response to the colder months?
โHe has structured up that Collingwood side and pulled them together and been the on-field coach and Craig McRaeโs proxy on-field when itโs required.
โIโve got no doubt that he can go and do most of those things for Damien Hardwick at least next year, potentially into the year beyond.
โAnd thatโs what theyโre looking for.โ
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