In 2007, he finished runner-up in the club’s best and fairest and the AFL Rising Star award. At the beginning of 2008, he was made part of the club’s five-man leadership group, an appointment his coach Mick Malthouse said would give him an opportunity to see how leadership groups worked. In May this year, he represented Victoria in the Hall of Fame Tribute match. Pendlebury played well – his ability to read the play and find position as good as any of the more decorated and experienced players around him.
Hence, he simply consolidated his reputation as one of the game’s best young players with his third placing in the 2008 Copeland Trophy. Indeed, Pendlebury is the only player selected in the 2005 AFL National Draft with two placings in his club’s best and fairest. At 20 years of age (he turns 21 in January), he is clearly talented enough to win a Copeland Trophy anytime soon.
If that is not enough, after spending early October in Bali he returned to make his debut for Australia in the International Rules Series.
Maybe it’s time to take a deep breath.
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