AFL LIVE: Confusion surrounds Pendlebury’s golden moment, Eagles take stunning early lead

While most eyes are on the action at the MCG, the Cats and Swans are battling away in Geelong in what could be potential grand final later this year.

The Cats have broken clear of the Swans for the moment taking an 18-point lead but the Swans are still in the action.

Four straight goals to Brad Close, Max Holmes, Jeremy Cameron and Lawson Humphries have put the home side in front.

Cats 50, Swans 32 with five mins to go in Q2.

Lost in the Scoot Pendlebury celebrations has been the return of Collingwood stars Darcy Moore, Darcy Cameron and Patrick Lipinski for this game.

They are vital cogs in the machine as the 11th-paced Magpies look to push their way back up the ladder.

Lipinski took little time to make his presence felt, threading a neat goal from the boundary line to open Collingwood’s account at the five-minute mark of the opening term.

Eagles ruckman Bailey Williams won’t be well-known to many Victorian fans, but he is a serious player and put on a match-winning performance in last week’s win over GWS.

He’s had two shots at goal this term and just nailed a shot just before the siren.

That was West Coast’s first winning opening term in 2026. They won’t be laying down for Pendles’ big day, the Magpies need to lift.

The Magpies have kicked just one goal, six behinds to start this match.

On the bench, coach Craig McRae does not look impressed, although Roan Steele has improved that tally to two goals nailing a set shot from just inside 50.

Meanwhile, Harley Reid was ripped down in a tackle from Brayden Maynard and players from both sides ran into remonstrate.

I get the feeling that it won’t be the last run in between those two.

Pies 18, Eagles 13 with two mins to go in Q1.

These Eagles are ripping into the match and they have booted another goal via emerging playmaker Brady Hough.

The Magpies are facing the same issue they’ve faced all season - they just can’t score goals with any regularity.

This could hurt them today.

Eagles 12, Pies 8 with nine mins to go in Q1.

Pendlebury. Tick
Nick Daicos. Tick.
Gold to the Magpies. Tick.

That was a brilliant play as Pendlebury made a trademark swift handball to Nick Daicos who dished it to Patrick Lipinski who ran towards the boundary and kicked a classy goal.

He traded some high fives with fans on the boundary just to top it off.

Football worthy of the gold numbers from the Magpies.

Pies 7, Eagles 6 with 13 mins to go in Q1.

The AFL has confirmed it gave its approval for all Collingwood players, not just milestone man Scott Pendlebury, to wear guernseys adorned with gold numbers for Pendlebury’s history-making moment.

In an unexpected move, all the Collingwood players ran out onto the MCG with jumpers bearing the gold numbers. News that Pendlebury would be wearing such a jumper had been known for weeks.

An AFL spokesperson confirmed the Collingwood move had been endorsed, and the club and their players wanted to pay tribute to Pendlebury in a “surprise” move.

Here are a few fan pictures from the MCG.