‘Would have stayed…’: Pendles twist as fresh details revealed in ‘disappointed’ Pies star’s exit
AFL legend Scott Pendlebury has left Collingwood after 442 games, reportedly feeling disappointed that the club did not offer him a contract extension. He has signed a four-year deal with the Gold Coast Suns, which includes a transition into a coaching role.
Why it matters
The departure of a high-profile sports figure under contentious circumstances is a major story in Australian sports culture.
AFL TEAMS COLLINGWOOD-MAGPIES ‘Would have stayed…’: Pendles twist as fresh details revealed in ‘disappointed’ Pies star’s exit 'Genuine tension': Inside Pendles' exit | 03:46 Josh Higgins from Fox Sports September 1st, 2026 7:50 am Fresh details have emerged surrounding Scott Pendlebury’s bombshell Collingwood departure , with the Magpies great reportedly left “disappointed” after the one-year deal he was prepared to sign never arrived.
Fox Footy’s Jon Ralph revealed Pendlebury would have remained at Collingwood in 2027 had the club put another contract in front of him during the back end of the season.
Instead, with no offer forthcoming, Pendlebury’s management began exploring alternatives before ultimately approaching Gold Coast themselves over the stunning move north.
“He would have stayed for another one year deal if it was offered to him in the back third of the season according to those that know him really well,” Ralph reported during On The Couch.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in