Great Scott, Magpies' marathon man leads by example

Magpie Scott Pendlebury (left) and Adelaide's Ben Keays only had eyes for the ball at the MCG.

At Collingwood, you'd better call Pendles.

Coach Craig McRae encourages younger players to pick Scott Pendlebury's brains about getting themselves up for AFL games when they're nursing an injury.

When Harvey Harrison was in some doubt with an ankle problem, McRae said he told the first-year player  "ring Pendles".

At 36 and in his 393rd game, Pendlebury went better than players a decade younger than him on Saturday, as Collingwood beat Adelaide by four points.

He kicked two first-quarter goals and, as McRae noted, he set up the Magpies' other two in the term.

Pendlebury racked up 30 possessions for the game, 12 of them contested, and had six clearances in another command performance.

"I won't touch the future. The present, he's playing as good as he can," McRae said.

"He's an incredible professional.

"Every week he's training to high standards. Right now, we're rapt with how he's going.

"Longevity is a great success story. You don't have that longevity without the professionalism and managing your body."

Pendlebury signed a one-year contract extension last year and is on track this season to becoming the sixth member of the AFL's 400-game club.

North Melbourne great Brent Harvey holds the record of 432 games.