Collingwood’s management of veteran champion Scott Pendlebury has again been questioned after the team’s pulsating draw with Hawthorn at the MCG on Thursday night.
Pendlebury, 38, was rested for the game after his best-on-performance last Saturday against Essendon which saw him play over 80 per cent of the game, including a whopping 92 per cent — or more than 30 minutes — of the final quarter when the game was well and truly over.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Collingwood CEO defends resting Scott Pendlebury
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today
Pendlebury is one game away from equalling Brent Harvey’s all-time games record of 432, and Collingwood are planning for him to break the record at the MCG in Round 11.
But that plan has come under fire, with AFL expert Kane Cornes saying on Channel 7’s The Agenda Setters during the week: “I’m not sure when at Collingwood it became about the individual and not about the team.”
Cornes doubled-down on his criticism on Thursday night, saying Pendlebury “would have been handy” after Collingwood spent more than 95 per cent of the game in the lead only to let the game slip at the death, as Hawthorn scored an equalising goal in the dying seconds.
Ahead of the game, Collingwood CEO Craig Kelly mocked Cornes when Cornes spoke to him on SEN, in an interview where Kelly was lashed by fans as “arrogant”, while Cornes’ hot take was widely supported.
“I think you said some things about our older guys and us maybe being a bit selfish. Was that a word you used?” Kelly asked Cornes.
Cornes: “I thought you left him on the ground far too long. He should be playing tonight”
Kelly: ”Yeah, OK. That’s interesting.”
Cornes: “That’s just my view.”
A laughing Kelly hit back: “I know. I know it’s your view. I know it’s your view. I’m glad we’re not listening to your view. But anyway, it is your view.”
Cornes: “I just think every game is important. You’re eighth on the ladder now. Top four is going to be important. You had the game under control at halftime. You could have managed his minutes so he played 20 in the second half and you’d have him tonight. Same with (Jeremy) Howe.”
Important defender Howe, 35, was also “managed” and did not play on Thursday.
Kelly again defended the plan: “Maybe you’re not considering some of the other players we wanted to see tonight.”
“Against Hawthorn?” Cornes asked.
Kelly: “Against Hawthorn, one of the top sides in the competition, yeah.”
Cornes: “I think you’d want to pick your best side.”
Kelly then brought up Cornes’ 300th and final game and asked him how many people were there.
“Not many because it was Adelaide Oval ….,” Kelly said.
“So this guy can do and we will do whatever we can to make sure he, whenever he wants to, whatever game Fly (coach Craig McRae) works out. Together they are so aligned with high performance. I don’t care what he does or when he does it, so long as our supporters can get behind him and celebrate this guy whom a lot of the supporters have started the journey with him and have gone through their whole lives supporting the club and supporting this No.10.”
Cornes: “Yeah, but what’s that got to do with my view?”
Kelly: “Well, I’m just saying that we need to manage him to make sure that we do that in aligned as a club when we want to do it and when Scott wants to do it, when it’s right for the coach.
“And we made a decision that tonight was going to be a night we’re going to have a little rest.”
Cornes: “Everything you’re saying is fine … but that was my point about that’s for the individual. That’s not for the team.”
Kelly again said the club was “all aligned” and it was no issue for the coach, “the whole club”, the administration, supporters.
“It is no issue at all. It’s so much fun. We’re having so much fun, Cornesy. It’s unbelievable,” Kelly said.
Cornes then said suggested if Collingwood won against Hawthorn he would then “look stupid” but, if they lost by a goal, they might question the decision.
“Oh, you’re going to blame him,” Kelly said.
Cornes: “It’s nothing personal. I love Scott Penderbury. He’s a legend in Australian football. All of that. You’re a great club. I just thought he would be handy tonight. You could have managed a situation where you could have had him. You disagree.”
Kelly: “You stay in the media. We’ll stay in the football.”
Fans were savage on Kelly after the interview.
“Kane has been very respectful with his call on resting Pendles yet Craig Kelly went personal, if anyone can’t see Kanes point on this topic, they’d have to have the blinkers on!!!” one fan said on social media.
And another: “I might not agree with Cornes a lot of things. But as a non Collingwood supporter. I think he raised a valid point. I find the CEO’s response a little arrogant if I am being honest.
And another: “Why is the crowd for Kane’s 300th relevant? The arrogance this bloke has because of crowd numbers is insane.”
And another: “Took him to the cleaners, Volkano (Cornes). He pretty much admitted that Pendles playing his game in front of a home crowd is more important that trying to win tonight’s game. Strange.”
And another: “Bloody selfish stuff, Kane gets it right again… EAD Collingwood. Kelly had to get personal!”
And another: “So he said nothing to address Kane’s point, started taking personal pot shots and basically admitted that they’re just getting him to the games record.”
