'I feel uncomfortable': Aspect of Scott Pendlebury record breaking moment Pies legend 'doesn't like'
Former Collingwood captain Tony Shaw is disappointed with his old club for, in his opinion, going too far with the celebrations for Scott Pendlebury's record-breaking 433rd game.
The 38-year-old will surpass North Melbourne champion Brent Harvey as the player who has played the most V/AFL games in history in the next month.
As part of celebrating that, the Magpies have received approval from the AFL for Pendlebury to wear a Collingwood jumper with a gold number rather than a black or white one.
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Scott Pendlebury of Collingwood. Now image that black number is gold for a night. AFL Photos via Getty Images
He will be the only Pie on the ground with that golden number. When Harvey broke the record at the Roos, every North player wore a jumper with "427" on it, the number of the previous record.
The Magpies asked the AFL for permission for Pendlebury to wear the bespoke jumper, which has been approved.
Pendlebury also sat out the side's draw with Hawthorn on Thursday night, and will miss their upcoming clash with Sydney, which will allow him to break the record at the MCG against West Coast the following week, rather than in New South Wales.
Shaw himself held the Collingwood V/AFL games played record of 313 until Pendlebury broke it.
The 1990 premiership star believes a gold number makes things too much about the individual and detracts from the focus of the team.
The guernsey worn by North Melbourne players when Brent Harvey broke the record in 2016. Getty
"I don't like it. I know heaps of Collingwood people from my era who agree. To me, he deserves every accolade he can get, but I'd rather see something like a jumper designed for the occasion more than a gold number on the night," Shaw told 3AW.
"It's a team game. I broke the club record. I wouldn't have wanted (something like that). As a leader and someone who bases everything on the team, which Pendlebury does, I'm not saying he's making it about himself, this is being forced on him.
"I'd be quite surprised if he would be comfortable with it.
"I don't like it. I've had heaps of people say to me they don't like it.
"A gold number that says you're different to everyone out on that field, I feel uncomfortable with it. It's only an opinion.
"He deserves every accolade. A lot of my friends, ex players and whatever, who are good football people have said the same thing.
"There's an awkwardness about it."
Tony Shaw presents Collingwood debutant Tew Jiath with his guernsey. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Richmond champion Matthew Richardson disagreed, calling Shaw "an old timer".
"It's a team game, but this is an individual achievement within it that might never be broken. I have no issue with it," Richardson said.
Pendlebury won the Anzac Day medal and broke his own person disposal record in the match, finishing with 43 touches, before missing the Hawks game off a five-day break.
The midfield superstar was originally taken by the Magpies with pick five in the 2005 AFL draft.
The No.1 pick in that draft, Carlton's Marc Murphy, retired five whole years ago, while West Coast star Shannon Hurn made it through to the end of 2023, giving him the longest career of the draft crop outside of Pendlebury, who is still dominating three years later.
No players remain in the competition from the 2006 draft and only Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield and Adelaide key forward Taylor Walker remain from 2007, highlighting the Magpie's longevity.
