Pendlebury Wins His Fourth Copeland Trophy

Collingwood News

Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury has declared he is truly black and white, committing to the club for the next five years.
The Collingwood faithful heard the news first, with President Eddie McGuire announcing Pendlebury’s re-signing at the E.W. Copeland Trophy event at Crown this evening.
The 27-year-old put pen to paper to remain at the Holden Centre until at least the end of 2020, extending his career in the black and white stripes to 15 years.
In his first decade at the club, Pendlebury has achieved nearly every AFL accolade on offer, including a premiership, Norm Smith Medal, three E.W. Copeland Trophies, five All Australian selections and two ANZAC Day Medals.
“The direction the club is taking really excites me. We have a solid group of young players who have got a taste of senior footy and we have the right program and people in place to take this group to the next level,” Pendlebury said.
“I’m proud to captain this club and want to be part of what the future holds.”
The 214-gamer leads a group of promising young players who extended their contracts earlier this year, including draftees Jordan De Goey, Brayden Maynard and Darcy Moore, as well Jamie Elliott, Tom Langdon, Jackson Ramsay and Matthew Scharenberg.
“To have an individual of Scott’s character committed to lead this team forward long-term provides a really solid environment for our young players to learn and develop both on and off the field,” Director of Football Neil Balme said.
“Scott’s uncompromising professionalism and commitment has seen him become one of the game’s elite midfielders and we are really pleased our supporters get to see him run out onto the ‘G as a Magpie for a further five years.”

Scott Pendlebury marked his name alongside three of the club’s greatest ever players after winning his fourth E.W. Copeland Trophy in front of 1,500 guests at Crown Palladium tonight.
The captain joined club legend Bob Rose as a four-time winner, with only Hall of Famers Len Thompson (5) and Nathan Buckley (6) taking home the honour on more occasions.
The skilful midfielder polled 169 votes to win his third-consecutive best and fairest, 49 votes clear of Dane Swan (120). Collingwood’s younger players were rewarded for strong years with Jack Crisp (113) and Taylor Adams (103) finishing third and fourth respectively, while Steele Sidebottom polled a remarkable 102 votes to finish fifth despite missing six matches.
The win further etches Pendlebury’s name into Magpie history, the 27-year-old is one of just three Norm Smith medallists, he’s the 46th player to captain the club and a member of Collingwood’s 15th premiership.
A player of great consistency and durability, Pendlebury polled in 19 of a possible 22 matches. He received a count-high 15 votes in the side’s Round 5 win over Carlton where he collected 32 disposals and kicked two goals, and in the nail-biting Round 14 loss to Hawthorn where he amassed a season-high 37 disposals.
The skipper average 29 disposals and five tackles a match, both above his career averages, and topped the side’s stats table is total disposals (635) and total tackles (112).
Season 2015 continued a dominant period for Pendlebury and Swan, with the pair finishing top three in six of the past eight E.W. Copeland Trophy counts. In a positive sign for the future of the club, five of the top ten place getters were aged 25 years or younger with Crisp, Adams, Tom Langdon and Marley Williams recording their highest vote tallies and Sidebottom again featuring heavily in the count.
For the first time in five years, Travis Cloke was surpassed as the club’s leading goal kicker after Jamie Elliott secured the Gordon Coventry Award with 35 goals in 2015.
And in a season where Nathan Buckley unearthed five debutants, Jordan De Goey took home the Harry Collier Trophy as the best first year player. The number five pick in the 2014 National Draft, De Goey played 16 games in his debut season, averaging 14 disposals and earning himself a Rising Star nomination in Round 20. Pendlebury has won the E.W. Copeland Trophy in 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

2015 E.W. Copeland Trophy Top Ten
1. Scott Pendlebury, 169 votes (E.W. Copeland Trophy)
2. Dane Swan, 120 (R.T. Rush Trophy)
3. Jack Crisp, 113 (J.J. Joyce Trophy)
4. Taylor Adams, 103 (J.F. McHale Trophy)
5. Steele Sidebottom, 102 (Jack Regan Trophy)
6. Tom Langdon, 93
7. Marley Williams, 93
8. Nathan Brown, 70
9. Travis Cloke, 69
10. Travis Varcoe, 65

Other Awards
Magpie Army Player of the Year
Dane Swan

Darren Millane Perpetual Memorial Trophy (Best Clubman)
Nathan Brown

Harry Collier Trophy (Best First Year Player)
Jordan De Goey

Gavin Brown Award (Leading Desire Indicators)
Jack Crisp

Gordon Coventry Award (Leading Goal Kicker)
Jamie Elliott (35 goals)

Joseph Wren Award (Best VFL Player)
Ben Moloney

Phonse Kyne Award (Services to the Club)
Physiotherapist David Francis