Collingwood veteran extends contract to 2025 as Magpies look to gatecrash finals.

Collingwood legend Scott Pendlebury has announced he will play next year for the Magpies only a week after coach Craig McRae said he would be speaking to the veterans over their future at the club. The Magpies secured a vital win on the weekend having defeated last-placed Richmond to keep their chances of playing AFL finals footy alive.

Last week, McRae admitted he was in ongoing discussions with the veterans with some tough calls needed if Collingwood wunable to secure finals footy in 2024. Howeerever, to add to the victory on the weekend, Pendlebury has announced he will remain at the club in 2025 with a new deal.rtain at the club.

Next year, if the squad remains the same, Collingwood will enter the season with 11 players over the age of 30. After a season that could see them miss out on finals footy, questions could be asked of dual premiership heroes Pendlebury (37 next January) and Sidebottom (34 next January).

Last week, McRae admitted he was in ongoing discussions with the veterans with some tough calls needed if Collingwood were unable to secure finals footy. However, to add to the victory on the weekend, Pendlebury has announced he will remain at the club in 2025 with 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’ 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 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 make Collingwood history

Pendlebury will have the opportunity to become the first Collingwood star to reach 400 VFL/AFL games this Saturday against Carlton. He also has the opportunity to surpass Brent Harvey as the most capped player in history if he plays beyond next year.

And the Collingwood great said while he hasn’t confirmed anything, he is already looking at moves beyond next season. “We’re also planning for the future. I know that I am probably on the back three of the golf course, probably the back two,” he said.

“If I do happen to get there it will be because the football club believes it is the best thing to do but it’s not one where I am going to put myself ahead of the club and try and get there for my own personal goals.”

Craig McRae remains coy on Collingwood plans

Only last week, McRae said he was in talks with both veterans over their futures at the struggling club. “I’m speaking with Steele and ‘Pendles’ regularly, like weekly and fortnightly, not just about the future but about the now,” McRae said ahead of the Richmond clash. “But we’re not there yet … respectfully, we want to honour our greats and those two in particular, they live in that bracket.

“Funnily enough when it’s a premiership list it’s bulletproof, add then when it’s not, it’s got holes everywhere in it. But we’re going to have a bit more of a futuristic look at that … I’ll leave that to others to make all those finite details. We’ll be collective on making sure we get the right direction for this footy club.”