Geelong’s Dominant Victory Over Collingwood
Geelong delivered a commanding performance in their recent clash against Collingwood, securing a 54-point victory at the MCG. The win was particularly significant for Scott Pendlebury, who equalled the AFL record of 432 games with his milestone appearance. However, the night was not without its challenges for the Magpies, as they suffered a major setback with the loss of captain Darcy Moore to concussion.
Bailey Smith and Oliver Henry were standout performers for the Cats, with Smith recording 40 possessions and Henry booting four goals. This helped Geelong achieve a convincing score of 18.14 (122) to 9.14 (68). The victory marked a strong showing from the team, especially considering the circumstances surrounding Pendlebury’s historic moment.
A Historic Achievement for Pendlebury
Pendlebury, now tied with retired North Melbourne legend Brent Harvey on 432 games, played an impressive role in the match, contributing 27 touches and kicking a goal. Despite the win, the 38-year-old Magpies champion will be eager to move on from this game and focus on an upcoming match against West Coast at the MCG in two weeks’ time. That game will see him surpass Harvey to become the outright games record holder.
To celebrate this milestone, Pendlebury will be rested for the following week’s match against Sydney at the SCG. This decision allows him to mark the occasion in front of the Collingwood faithful at the MCG during round 11. The No.10 on his guernsey is expected to be gold for the special event, a choice that has drawn some criticism, including from former Collingwood captain Tony Shaw.
Shifting Focus to Teammates
In a post-match interview with Fox Footy’s Jack Riewoldt, Pendlebury avoided focusing on himself and instead highlighted the achievements of teammates Patrick Lipinski and Tom Stewart, who played their 150th and 200th games respectively. “Tonight we wanted to celebrate ‘Lippa’ as well, and pay respect for Tommy Stewart,” Pendlebury said. “He played game 200, he’s a fantastic player. Just disappointed we played how we played tonight.”
Injury Setback for Collingwood
The Magpies faced another blow when captain Darcy Moore was ruled out due to concussion after taking a heavy hit to the head. The incident occurred late in the second quarter when Moore and Geelong’s Oisin Mullin collided over the ball. Moore came off the worse, with Mullin appearing to collect him high with his left shoulder.
Mullin is unlikely to face any scrutiny from the match review officer. Melbourne great Garry Lyon commented on the Fox Footy broadcast, stating, “No issue about this; this is just a footy accident. Oisin Mullin’s attack on the footy was admirable, and unfortunately for the Collingwood skipper, [he is] no longer a part of this game.”
