Immediately after kicking a goal with his first disposal in the AFL, Scott Pendlebury was described as a "young boy playing a man's game".
Eighteen years later, the kid with "skinny arms" from Sale in country Victoria is about to become only the sixth VFL/AFL player to reach 400 games after a legendary career at Collingwood committed to continually improving himself.
When he runs out in front of a crowd of up to 90,000 people at the MCG on Saturday night against bitter-rivals Carlton, Pendlebury will, deservedly, be showered with every compliment possible.
Just as he did when he perfectly kicked the ball to Pendlebury for his first possession on debut in round 10, 2006, Nathan Buckley again directed another laser pass this week.
"There hasn't been a player who's contributed as much for as long as he has in my view, and that makes him the best 'Pie that's ever played the game," the Collingwood legend and former Magpies coach said.
"I was sitting in the stands with my young fella (for Collingwood's round-10 game against Adelaide this year), just watching him (Pendlebury) go about his business and it just dawned on me that we were witnessing a player who is one of the most consistent players that's ever played the game."
Buckley's successor as Collingwood coach, Craig McRae, hailed Pendlebury as the ultimate professional.
Luck always plays a role in the longevity of any athlete, but there is no question Pendlebury's dedication to going above and beyond what is required of an AFL player has allowed him to reach 400 quicker than the five previous members - Kevin Bartlett, Michael Tuck, Dustin Fletcher, Brent Harvey and Shaun Burgoyne - of the elite club.
"It'd be hard to find others that would rival (his professionalism)," McRae said of Pendlebury.
"Professionalism is one thing, but I think just being able to manage his body and then play at the highest level, and play with such intensity for so long is unbelievable."
The smooth-moving left-footer has rarely missed games, but that doesn't mean he hasn't dealt with injuries.
"Trying to navigate your body to play through injuries has been tricky," Pendlebury, 36, said this week.
"Like every player that's played, you play with injuries, but that's really hard at times.
"When you might be coming back from a broken leg two weeks earlier, or you know you've done a medial ligament in your knee and you're trying to get back and play, but you can't really turn and you strap it up and get back out there."
Pendlebury has already declared he will play on in 2025 - a 20th season in the AFL.
The way he is playing, there is no reason why the six-time All-Australian couldn't continue into 2026 and break Harvey's all-time games record of 432.
When Pendlebury does eventually retire, he will stay in football, and could one day even coach Collingwood.
He is essentially already doing it as a player, two years after he relinquished the Collingwood captaincy following 206 games as skipper.
"He's more than that (an on-field coach)," McRae said.
"He sees things before we (coaches) see it.
"This week, if you do nothing else, go watch him. He orchestrates everything."
