Golden Sunset? Gold Coast ponders Pendlebury for Hodge-like role

Gold Coast have expressed interest in recruiting Collingwood great Scott Pendlebury for a Luke Hodge-style role on the field next year.

Essendon also have inquired about whether Pendlebury would be interested in playing with and mentoring their young list next year, as the AFL’s games record holder weighs up his next move, industry sources familiar with Pendlebury’s discussions have confirmed.

The Suns, who have slumped from a 7-3 start this season to be 8-13 and out of finals contention, are primarily interested in Pendlebury as a player next year, rather than as an assistant coach, though he harbours coaching ambitions and could easily move from playing to (assistant) coaching if he chooses to leave the Magpies.

Collingwood are yet to put an offer to Pendlebury for 2027, as they continue the difficult transition of a playing list that they aim to regenerate with a mix of youth and seasoned recruits over post-season. Steele Sidebottom, as this masthead reported, is expected to finish up at Collingwood after this year, while defender and team leader Jeremy Howe has a contract offer on the table.

Pendlebury’s future is being handled sensitively by Collingwood who wish to avoid a Brent Harvey like scenario when the then AFL games record holder was a reluctant retiree a decade ago.

Pendlebury’s appeal to the Suns is obviously for his leadership capacity and renowned ability to direct teammates and act as a de facto on-field coach. The Suns have arguably lacked leadership support for their skipper Noah Anderson and have not performed well in the centre bounces – including defensively – this season, despite the arrival of superstar Christian Petracca from Melbourne.

Matt Rowell, hurt in the pre-season with a foot injury, has not reached the stellar heights of his 2025 Brownlow Medal season.

Collingwood are the favourites to land Brisbane Lions dual Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale, who has met with the Magpies on multiple occasions and has a sizeable three-year contract offer on the table from them, having saved significant salary cap space with the exit of Bobby Hill, who was reportedly contracted at close to $750,000 for the next four seasons.

While Pendlebury will have the option at playing on in 2027 at other clubs and adding further to the games record he broke in round 11 against West Coast, the champion has indicated that the decision on his future with the Magpies would be one that was in the best interests of the club.

“Me and Sidey (Sidebottom) will sit down at the end of the season with the footy club and work out what’s best for everyone,” Pendlebury told Seven’s The Front Bar last week.

“I’ve heard comments like it’s up to Sidey, or it’s up to me. I think we’re mature enough, you know, to know that it’s a club decision, and we’ll make what’s best for the footy club.”

Hodge’s move to the Lions followed his retirement from the Hawks in 2017, and was prompted by the four-time premiership hero and dual Norm Smith medallist’s wish to continue playing and Brisbane’s then need for on-field direction and guidance for a younger list. It has become a template for experienced players who move to younger or developing teams.

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