‘I would not have done it’: McRae’s Pendlebury gamble splits footy world as season teeters

Four-time premiership coach Leigh Matthews has described Collingwood’s decision to rest Scott Pendlebury as prioritising “romance” over winning games as the Magpies’ season teeters on the edge.

The Magpies are languishing in 10th position on the ladder, with 4-5 win-loss ratio, after falling just six points short against ladder leaders Sydney at the SCG on Friday night.

The brave but narrow loss against the Swans with an undermanned side prompted Collingwood coach Craig McRae to defend the club’s management of Pendlebury – a decision-making process that will ensure he breaks the games record at the MCG next Saturday against the West Coast in front of the Magpie Army.

“Would you want to celebrate the record for the most games in the history of the game here [in Sydney] tonight – or would you rather do it next week at the MCG?” McRae said on Friday night.

“That’s a simple question, and respectfully, when Pendles has played that many games, we want to make sure that we celebrate him in the right manner.

“His body isn’t as bulletproof as you think it is. Five- and six-day breaks, all the data says that he’s just getting to the line, and we’re looking after him, and we’ll celebrate him appropriately.”

But Matthews, the flag-winning Collingwood and Brisbane Lions coach, said he was uncomfortable with the concept.

“OK, he’s going to play the record-breaking game, it’s a big event, yet we’re going to make sure it’s at the MCG at the expense of potentially getting the four points and your finals chances might be won or lost by a win or a loss,” Matthews told 3AW on Saturday.

“So it does seem a little bit over the top to me at the moment in terms of the romance overwhelming the practical aspect of trying to win as many games to play finals.”

Matthews said he always wanted to put his best side on the ground every week, but conceded clubs such as Collingwood and Geelong now took a longer-term view in managing players.

Collingwood’s marketing department will plan for a sellout crowd at the MCG next Saturday afternoon to watch 38-year-old Pendlebury pass North Melbourne great Brent Harvey’s record of 432 games.

Pendlebury is expected to wear several special jumpers with a gold No.10 on the back during the match which will be later sold at auction, expected to raise up to $500,000 for the player.

The AFL has agreed to allow the one-off payday to fall outside the salary cap, saying “any commercial arrangement between parties around the celebration remains confidential”.

Pendlebury has also chosen Elite Estate Wine to produce a “SP433 Record Breaker Pinot Noir” to mark the occasion, while Collingwood have opted for senior players to wear commemorative SP433 jumpers rather than their Indigenous design for the second week of Sir Doug Nicholls Round.

“We want to assure all members and supporters we will celebrate Sir Doug Nicholls Round and Scott Pendlebury’s historic milestone with the prominence and respect each deserves, Side by Side,” club CEO Craig Kelly said in a recent statement.

Despite the historic significance of the looming milestone, Collingwood have sorely missed Pendlebury in two of their past three games – he was rested during the Hawthorn draw off a five-day break and again against the Swans off a six-day break.

The Pies were already fighting out of their weight division on Friday night, missing captain Darcy Moore (concussion), ruckman Darcy Cameron (ankle), Patrick Lipinski (concussion), Tim Membrey (hamstring) and defender Harry Perryman.

They were further weakened by the loss of ruckman Oscar Steene during the third term after his left knee buckled during a ruck contest.

Scans on Saturday confirmed the 22-year-old rookie had ruptured his ACL.

In a statement, Magpies footy boss Charlie Gardiner said the Magpies were “all incredibly disappointed” for Steene.

“Oscar has worked extremely hard over the past few years to overcome injuries and get his opportunity at AFL level, so we are all incredibly disappointed for him,” Gardiner said.

“Since debuting earlier this year, Oscar has been an exciting addition to the team with his athleticism and competitiveness, suggesting he has a bright future ahead.”

While Steene faces the remainder of the season on the sidelines, debate will continue to rage this week about Collingwood’s handling of Pendlebury.

West Coast premiership coach Adam Simpson said, “I would not have done it” when talking about resting the Magpie great against Sydney.

He said Collingwood had locked themselves on this path a month ago when Pendlebury won the Anzac Day medal against Essendon during a match critics believed he should have been rested.

Instead, he amassed his most possessions (43) in a single game.

“It goes all the way back to the Anzac Day. If you really wanted to maximise winning every week, he doesn’t play Anzac Day,” Simpson said on SEN on Saturday.

But Simpson said he was happy to move on and fully embrace Pendlebury’s history-breaking moment.

Former Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley said the issue would resurface at the season’s end if Collingwood were still battling to secure a finals berth.

“We shouldn’t be talking too much around it, but when a season gets really tight at the end of the year, like right at the end of the year, where they finish and where they don’t finish, and see that you had a choice, and you did choose the right option,” Hinkley told SEN.

“I believe it chose to have his record-breaking game at the MCG in front of 100,000 people, which it should be. But planning for a season is pretty hard.”

Steene was helped from the ground at a crucial stage of the third quarter after his left knee buckled during a ruck duel. The Pies were leading by 17 points at that stage.

Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.