'Don't pay it': Eddie McGuire urges Scott Pendlebury to ignore $3000 fine handed down by AFL tribunal

Former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has urged Scott Pendlebury to boycott the fine handed down by the AFL tribunal after he successfully had a one-game suspension overturned and changed to a $3000 financial penalty.

Pendlebury's exemplary record was the main reason behind the tribunal's decision with the charge downgraded due to exceptional and compelling circumstances. The tribunal deliberated for 70 minutes after all evidence had been given.

Collingwood were urged to challenge Pendlebury's one-game suspension for the high bump on Adelaide's Josh Worrell on Saturday night.

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The veteran was facing the first ban of his storied Magpies career after his shoulder collected Worrell, who was slow to his feet after the incident during the fourth quarter of Collingwood's loss to the Crows.

The hit was ruled as careless conduct, medium impact and high contact by the MRO.

And while he got off with a fine and his perfect disciplinary record remained intact, McGuire urged the Magpies star to ignore the sanction.

"It did not cause injury and it was very much an in-play incident," McGuire said on Nine's Footy Classified on Tuesday night.

"Don't pay it. Ridiculous. I don't know what's going on at headquarters, but they see a mincer and they walk towards and stick their head down at the moment.

"Why are they picking fights with everybody?"

Former Adelaide skipper Rory Sloane concurred.

"I think players are just sick of the game being made harder for them," he said.

"They're trying their best to adapt to the changes around head knocks and everything, and players want to look after other players, but they are absolutely sick of the game being made harder for them.

"And a $1500 or $3000 fine, Pendle don't pay it, like just literally walk out on the ground and refuse to pay it because it's an absolute joke."

The 38-year-old had never been suspended throughout a long career as he chases Brent Harvey's record for AFL matches.

Pendlebury is on 427 games; Harvey played 432.

Speaking on Triple M's Sunday Rub, Pendlebury admitted he wasn't aware of what transpired during his collision with Worrell.

"The play, as it happened, I was actually our 'go-to' player off the back of the contest, so I didn't realise that we'd actually even hit, and I took off," he said.

Collingwood has the bye in round two followed by a clash with the GWS Giants.