Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury’s AFL season could be over with the star veteran fearing he has broken his leg.
Pendlebury left a massive hole in the Magpies midfield when he was subbed out at quarter-time during Friday night’s defeat by Port Adelaide.
The 33-year-old did not seem too distressed as he watched on from the bench but told ABC Radio after the 28-point loss he has had similar injuries before.
Pendlebury broke his leg in 2009 and compared the pain to that incident.
But Collingwood coach Robert Harvey said the club would wait until Pendlebury had scans to make an accurate call on his immediate future.
“It’s a pretty early diagnosis, that one (from Pendlebury),” Harvey said.
“All we know is he was a bit sore to go back on so until we get further information (it is hard to know).”
(Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
The Magpies led by five points when Pendlebury went off but had to replace him with tall forward Mason Cox.
Harvey defended the decision to use Cox as the medical sub and backed the Magpies’ midfield brigade that fought valiantly against Port stars Travis Boak and Ollie Wines.
Pendlebury’s potential absence for the rest of the season will create further room for Harvey to blood young Magpies talent.
Irish recruit Anton Tohill and small forward Jack Ginnivan played against the Power, bringing the number of Collingwood debutants to nine this year.
Teenager Oliver Henry continues to make strides after kicking three goals in a breakout game against Carlton last week.
Henry booted 2.3 against the Power and looked right at home up forward – an area where Collingwood have struggled significantly this year.
“It’s really good for Ollie Henry because he’s strung that together and backed up last week,” Harvey said.
“I think he’s a really talent for us. We’ve got a lot of guys who we’ve got games into this year that are going to be good for this club for a long time.”
Flagpies
Roar Rookie
I'd imagine that whoever the new coach is will be the one choosing his own assistants, I'd also imagine that would come in discussion in the interview process. In short it would be a dumb move by the club to make their own appointments for assistants - they should and I imagine would leave that to the incoming coach. To further bolster that belief, the club will be the beggar not the chooser in how the coaching landscape looks beyond this year. Highly unlikely that Harvs will be an assistant next year, if at the club at all.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Hope so. Nice Bloke Harvs, bumped into him walking his dog the other day.
Bangkokpussey
Roar Rookie
Bad luck about Pendles. Such silky skills like his dont come along often. I hate to see great players get injured badly towards the end of a great career. They certainly missed him when he went off. The season off may help to extend his career with a bit of luck.
Johnno
Roar Rookie
I think Harvey being given the interim coach means he is a cert as an Assistant at the Piesin 2022.
In all fairness, I think Harvey has done a good job. With all the turmoil and chaos that he has walked into, he has held the team together well and got the playing some good footy at times - and to his own disadvantage he is blooding some youngsters.
John
Guest
Harvey puts Cox as the medical substitute. That is why he should NOT even be interviewed for the coaching gig.
Kane
Roar Rookie
If he thought he broke his leg then it's a bit surprising he wasn't on crutches
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Put him on ice for 2022 regardless and keep pumping games into the kids.