Humble Pies legend Scott Pendlebury wins game 400 over rivals Carlton in heart-stopping fashion
Updated . First published at
What a way to win game 400!
Collingwood legend Scott Pendlebury's milestone match truly had it all, as his side held off a fast finishing Carlton to win by just three points at the MCG on Saturday night.
And what more could you ask for in the biggest milestone of your career?
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A win over your biggest rivals in Carlton in front of over 85,000 fans at the home of football.
But even after the siren, Pendlebury didn't know if his Pies had locked in the win.
Scott Pendlebury is chaired off in game 400 by Pies teammates Jeremy Howe and Steele Sidebottom. Getty
It came after a late Carlton surge, which saw them trailing the Pies by just three points with 30 seconds on the clock.
From a ruck contest just outside Carlton's forward 50, it was Blues' ruckman Marc Pittonet who crumbed clearly and threw the ball on his boot inside their forwardline.
That ball was marked by Carlton's Mitch McGovern, on a slight angle, about 45 metres out on the siren.
Now it was time for Pendlebury to hold his breath and wait to see if his 400th would be a win, or a loss.
Scott Pendlebury celebrates game 400 with teammates. AFL Photos via Getty Images
McGovern strolled in and thankfully for Pendlebury, missed the goals completely, kicking the ball out on the full, handing the Pies the win.
Collingwood players and fans erupted, as Pendlebury's teammates swarmed him in celebration.
Pendlebury joins just five other V/AFL legends in the 400-game club.
North Melbourne's Brent Harvey sits at the top, with 432 games, followed by Michael Tuck (Hawthorn, 426 games), Shaun Burgoyne (Hawthorn, Port Adelaide, 407 games), Kevin Bartlett (Richmond, 403 games) and Dustin Fletcher (Essendon, 400 games).
Pendlebury also becomes the first AFL player to play in front of 21 million fans across his 400 games.
The two-time premiership player and six-time All-Australian was grateful to his closest supporters.
Mitch McGovern's miss after the siren in round 21. Getty
"A lot of luck goes my way. I've had some great coaches, some great support networks around me. You don't get here by yourself," Pendlebury said post match.
As for what lies ahead next season, Pendlebury hasn't revealed whether he'll play on in hopes of reaching Harvey's elusive games record of 432.
"I've got tomorrow in sight and trying to wake up not feeling like I've been hit by a truck, I'm not worried about next year, I'm worried about next week," he said.
The pies win keeps them in touch with the top eight, sitting just one game out.
Carlton's loss drops them down to seventh, collecting just one win from their last five outings.
Charlie Curnow of the Blues leaves the field with a trainer during round 21. Getty
Blues power forward Charlie Curnow was carved up, as he collected only nine disposals and didn't kick a goal.
He also went at 33 per cent disposal efficiency in his side's loss, with his run of 67 games kicking at least one goal a game officially over.
The Blues will be forced to go back to the drawing board, now facing a high-flying Hawthorn outfit at the MCG in round 22.
