Scott Pendlebury, the AFL's games record holder, was traded from Collingwood to the Gold Coast Suns on Monday 5 October 2026, the opening day of the AFL Trade Period.
Collingwood received a draft pick in return for Pendlebury, reported to be a late selection around Pick 65 in the 2026 Telstra AFL Draft.
Pendlebury was 38 when the trade was finalised. He had played 442 senior games for Collingwood across 21 seasons at the club.
He won five club best-and-fairest awards during that time and was presented with six All-Australian blazers.
Pendlebury's deal with Gold Coast is reported to run for two years as a player, followed by a coaching role under senior coach Damien Hardwick.
Gold Coast chose to acquire Pendlebury through a trade instead of selecting him in this year's draft. The arrangement was structured so it would not reduce the free agency compensation picks the Suns are due to receive for Ben King, who has reportedly been linked with a move to Hawthorn.
Reports said Gold Coast and Collingwood were not entirely satisfied with aspects of the AFL's trade and compensation rules as they applied to the Pendlebury deal.
The 2026 AFL Trade Period runs from 5 to 14 October. Pendlebury's move to the Suns was completed on its opening day.