Scott Pendlebury insists the VFL/AFL games record is not why he decided to play on next season as the Collingwood legend prepares to become just the sixth player to reach the 400-game mark. The 36-year-old will join Kevin Bartlett (Richmond), Michael Tuck (Hawthorn), Dustin Fletcher (Essendon), Brent Harvey (North Melbourne) and Shaun Burgoyne (Port Adelaide and Hawthorn) as part of the 400 club when he lines up in Saturday night’s blockbuster against Carlton at the MCG.

The dual-premiership player has already signalled his intent to play next year – taking him into a 20th season – which will put him within reach of Harvey’s VFL/AFL record of 432 games. And while Pendlebury won’t rule out playing on again in 2026 and passing Harvey’s tally, he insists he will only continue for as long as the fire in his belly remains.

“What is a motivating factor is playing this game for as long as I can, because I love it,” Pendlebury said on Wednesday. “I was trying to think of the words to say why I’ve kept going and it just comes down to I’m competitive. I’ll do anything I can to try and win.

“I love that feeling when the siren goes. When that feeling goes, I don’t love it anymore, I feel like it’s boring, that’s when I know it’s time to give it away, or my body fails me. But at the moment I still have that passion to play.”

Harvey was controversially forced into retirement by North Melbourne in 2016 despite kicking 36 goals that season and finishing fifth in the club’s best-and-fairest. The 46-year-old was adamant he could have played on for at least another season, potentially taking him past 450 games. But it didn’t happen and Harvey now he believes Pendlebury has a good chance of breaking his record.

“If he has a year like he has this year, he’d potentially go again (in 2026),” Harvey said on Wednesday. “I’ll shake his hand if he gets there, because I know how hard he would have had to work.”

The news of Pendlebury playing on comes after last week, Collingwood coach Craig McRae admitted he was in ongoing discussions with club veterans and said there would be some tough calls to be made if the Pies were unable to secure finals footy. However, Pendlebury is cleary not a player on the chopping block, as the veteran confirmed he will remain at the club in 2025 on a new deal.

“To be honest, I just want to get through 400 and try and get a win…I’ve got a contract for next year, so it’ll depend on my form and how the team is going,” Pendlebury said on SEN Radio. “’Fly’ (Craig McRae) has been really good with me and the conversations we have are ongoing about where he sees me and where I see myself.”

When pressed on the new contract, Pendlebury added: “Yeah, it’s all done. I think there’s just a few final little details. But yeah it’s all locked away, so looking forward to playing next year.”

Scott Pendlebury to go into coaching at the end of playing career?

While Pendlebury’s immediate focus is this weekend’s game, the Collingwood great has previously expressed his desire to remain part of the game when he hangs up his boots. When pressed on if that was still the plan on Wednesday, Pendlebury said: “(Coaching) is something that I want to do. I think I sort of put it out in the sphere already. That’s something that I want to do when the time is right.

“But in terms of how far I look ahead, it’s Saturday for me and it’s going to be a huge game,” he continued. “I can’t wait to get out there with all my teammates, have all my mates and family in the crowd and do what I love doing … go there and try to get a win for this football club.”

Most VFL/AFL matches:

1. Brent Harvey (North Melbourne) 432 games

2. Michael Tuck (Hawthorn) 426

3. Shaun Burgoyne (Port Adelaide and Hawthorn) 407

4. Kevin Bartlett (Richmond) 403

5. Dustin Fletcher (Essendon) 400

6. Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood) 399*

with agencies