2015 Leadership Group

Collingwood News

Scott Pendlebury will captain Collingwood for the second consecutive season and head a streamlined leadership group of five in 2015.
Pendlebury, who succeeded Nick Maxwell as captain in 2014, will lead a group of four vice-captains that includes Travis Cloke, Nathan Brown, Steele Sidebottom and Tyson Goldsack.
Cloke, Brown and Sidebottom were by Pendlebury’s side last year but Goldsack has been recognised with an official leadership position for the first time.
The selection of the 2015 leadership group was peer driven and reflects the changing face of the squad, which is one of the youngest in the competition but also one of the most experienced.
The Collingwood leadership group is relatively young, with Pendlebury, Cloke and Goldsack 27 years of age, Brown 26 and Sidebottom 24. All have much of their careers before them. Between them, however, there is five premierships and an average of 150 matches of experience.
Pendlebury said that the leadership selection process had placed a premium on the ability of a player to set high standards and hold to them, on and off the field.
“It’s a thrill to captain Collingwood again,” Pendlebury said.
“Whether it is for our players or our fans, the leadership group has to be making sure Collingwood is always doing its best, always striving to be better.
“I know all of this year’s group believe in what we are doing, how we are doing it and understand that they have been recognised for their ability to help build not only the team but the club.”
Collingwood senior coach Nathan Buckley said that through the selection process it became clear that being able to create and drive a selfless, team-first mentality was regarded highly.
“Our leaders shone through for their ability to think first about what is good for the group and for their ability and willingness to bring their team-mates along with them,” Buckley said.
“It’s one thing to do everything right yourself but leadership is more than that. To educate and mentor and inspire those around you is as important and that was reflected in the process.”
The leadership group is selected by the entire playing list in conjunction with the coaching staff and then ratified by the board of the Collingwood Football Club.
The composition of the 2015 leadership group was revealed today at Calder Park Raceway, where it was also announced that GM Holden has extended its Platinum Partner sponsorship of Collingwood by a further three years.
Holden GM of sponsorship and motor sport, Simon McNamara, was on hand to confirm the extension which will see the iconic Australian car company remain with Collingwood at least until the end of 2018.

The Leaders

Scott Pendlebury
Captain
1. He was selected to join a 12-man basketball squad at the Australian Institute of Sport during his junior days.
2. He was a member of the Gippsland Power’s TAC Cup premiership in 2005, where he played alongside Dale Thomas, Tyson Goldsack and Brent Macaffer.
3. Pendlebury kicked a goal with his first kick in league football, marking a Nathan Buckley pass on the chest against Brisbane in round 10, 2006.
4. Although his No. 10 is part of his trademark, Pendlebury wore No. 16 in his debut season.
5. Both his brothers have played VFL football for Collingwood. Older brother Kris captained the team from 2010-2012 while younger sibling Ryan made his debut last season.

Nathan Brown
Vice-Captain
1. Nathan was a Carlton supporter as a child, but don’t hold that against him.
2. Twin brother Mitch was a Collingwood fan, but he ended up at West Coast where he has played 89 games.
3. Had a baptism of fire in his debut year of 2008, playing on Matthew Pavlich, Jonathan Brown and Matthew Richardson in successive weeks.
4. He has played 100 per cent game time in 20 of his 93 games, but only once since the 2010 Preliminary Final.
5. Brown won the Harry Collier Trophy as the club’s best first year player in 2008.

Travis Cloke
Vice-Captain
1. Cloke played his first AFL match while studying his VCE at Yarra Valley Grammar in Ringwood, in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.
2. Wearing the No. 32, he shared his original locker space with older brothers Cameron (No. 33) and Jason (No. 34) in his first two years at the club.
3. He has kicked six goals in a game on five occasions (and seven once, against Richmond in 2013).
4. Cloke has won 10 hitouts in his past 81 games. He once won 10 hitouts in a game, against Brisbane in 2009).
5. Alongside Pendlebury and Dane Swan, he is one of only three current Magpies to have never played a match for the club’s VFL team since its rebirth in 2008.

Tyson Goldsack
Vice-Captain
1. He was overlooked at the National Draft in 2005 and played for the Gippsland Power as an overage player in 2006. At year’s end, he was drafted to Collingwood with selection No. 63.
2. Goldsack trained with Hawthorn at the end of the 2005 season but was overlooked at the draft table.
3. He was one of Collingwood’s nine debutants in season 2007, a year in which he received a Rising Star nomination en route to a Preliminary Final.
4. Goldsack is a product of Pakenham in Melbourne’s outer east, and follows in the footsteps of Ray Jackson, Don McIntyre, Norm Andrews, Bill Stone, Lou Milner, Peter Russo, Peter Bennett and Ray Jencke as the club’s VFL/AFL representatives.
5. His brother, Jared, plays football for Balwyn (alongside Pendlebury’s brother, Kris) in the Eastern Football League.

Steele Sidebottom
Vice-Captain
1. Steele is one of five Sidebottom brothers to hail from Tallygaroopna, in the Goulburn Valley. His brothers’ nicknames are Boof, Flea, Twiggy and Golly. To his brothers, Steele is known as Rusty.
2. One of his brothers, Ryan Sidebottom, has played First Class cricket for Victoria.
3. He was the youngest member of Collingwood’s 2010 premiership side at the age of 19.
4. He famously kicked 10 goals in the TAC Cup Grand Final of 2008 while playing for the Murray Bushrangers.
5. In his first 61 games, Sidebottom played in only 11 losses.