Scott Pendlebury will play for the Gold Coast Suns in 2027, drawing a close to his legendary 442-game career at Collingwood.
The Herald Sun first reported Pendlebury has accepted a multi-year playing-coaching deal for Gold Coast from next season.
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It would see Pendlebury, who turns 39 in January, play at least one season for the Suns, before joining three-time premiership boss Damien Hardwick in the coach’s box.
It’s a move similar to Luke Hodge’s switch to Brisbane and Sam Mitchell’s trade to West Coast in the twilight of their legendary Hawthorn careers.
Pendlebury departs the Magpies as a free agent after a glittering career in black and white as arguably the greatest player in club history including breaking the AFL’s games record in 2o26.
The veteran won two premierships, played in a further two grand finals and won five Copeland Trophies, six All-Australians, one Norm Smith Medal and four Anzac Day medals across 21 seasons since making his debut in 2006.
Pendlebury missed out on a send-off game in front of the black and white faithful after a hamstring injury sidelined him in Collingwood’s heartbreaking finals wildcard loss to the Western Bulldogs on Friday night.
He departs with Collingwood’s blessing, with president Barry Carp saying the club would fully support whatever choice the Magpies icon makes on his future.
Collingwood coach Craig McRae earlier this week said Pendlebury was a 50-50 chance to stay at the club in 2027, with momentum building on a move to the Suns in recent weeks.
It comes after retired Magpies champion Steele Sidebottom played his last AFL game on Friday night following 375 appearances in a changing of the guard at the club.
Widely regarded as a future senior coach, Pendlebury will now begin the process of moving his young family up north.
He will add leadership and unrivalled experience to a Suns team hoping to bounce back from a shock fall from grace in 2026 after adding Christian Petracca.
