Geelong superstar agrees to a deal for 2027, Pendlebury still undecided

Geelong and Patrick Dangerfield have agreed to a contract for 2027, confirming that the Cats’ superstar veteran will play on into his 20th AFL season.

The Cats and their skipper have reached agreement on terms for a one-year deal for 2027, meaning Dangerfield will play on as he wished and push towards the 400-game mark, according to industry sources familiar with Dangerfield’s deal, speaking anonymously to discuss player contracts.

Dangerfield, who was drafted by the Adelaide Crows in 2007, will suit up for his 12th season at Geelong, an astonishing return for a player and club who joined forces for the 2016 season and helped arrest a potential slide for the Cats.

Dangerfield was due to play his 15th game of 2026 on Friday night against the Demons and the 375th of his career, having surmounted a calf injury that saw him miss games from rounds two to five this season.

The Cats confirmed he had signed on after this masthead’s report.

“It’s exciting for us all to have Pat playing for the Cats in 2027. He continues to lead from the front and remains an important player and person within our football program,” football boss Andrew Mackie said.

“Pat drives high standards, cares deeply about the Club and has a positive influence on everyone around him, so we’re pleased to see him continue his career into 2027.”

Dangerfield entered Friday’s game with 18 goals and an average of just under 15 disposals, having been deployed mainly as a forward rather than midfielder since 2025, when he was instrumental in Geelong overcoming Hawthorn to reach the grand final with one of his career-best games in the preliminary final (31 disposals, three goals, nine inside 50s). He was second in the AFL for goal assists last year.

Should Dangerfield, who has been carefully managed by the Cats, play all the remaining games and one final, he would need a further 20 games to reach the 400 game mark in 2027. He turns 37 in April.

Dangerfield needs four votes in the Brownlow Medal to become the highest polling player for that award in the game’s history, surpassing ex-teammate Gary Ablett (262 votes).

Dangerfield, one of the AFL’s most decorated champions with a Brownlow Medal (2016), eight All-Australian jumpers (equal most of any current player with Max Gawn), had signalled his wish to play on 2027 earlier this season. He has captained the Cats for four seasons, and was an influential president of the AFL Players’ Association from 2018 until early 2025.

Like several other Geelong greats, including the retired Joel Selwood and Tom Hawkins, Dangerfield has played well into his 30s on significantly reduced dollars in his twilight years – a situation echoed at Collingwood, where Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom and Jeremy Howe have sustained careers into their mid-30s or beyond.

Geelong’s capacity to keep veterans playing on at a high level in to their 30s on moderate or reduced contracts has assisted the Cats in recruiting select players from rival clubs.

They have been the leading contender for Giants’ skipper and free agent Toby Greene should he leave and have remained interested in St Kilda ruckman Rowan Marshall, whom the Saints retained despite Marshall’s bid for a trade to Geelong last October.
- Jake Niall

Pendlebury ‘unsure’ about 2027

Steve Barrett

Scott Pendlebury is still yet to decide whether his legendary career at Collingwood will continue into a 22nd season in 2027, with the club maintaining it will ultimately be his call.

Pendlebury was among the Magpies’ best at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night as they turned a 27-point deficit into a powerful 34-point win over Adelaide.

Playing his VFL/AFL record-extending 439th game, Pendlebury racked up 29 touches and six clearances, while his right-foot snap deep into the second quarter sparked Collingwood’s comeback.

Uncontracted for next season and set to turn 39 in January, Pendlebury is averaging 23.9 disposals per game this year, his highest return since 2019.

“I’m not sure about next year,” Pendlebury said with a straight bat.

“My focus is still on this year, and performances like this give me belief that this group can do special things this year.”

This masthead reported this week that, while Collingwood is expected to announce the retirement before the season’s close of Pendlebury’s great mate Steele Sidebottom, it is open to either of Pendlebury or Jeremy Howe (who was also important on Thursday night) to either retire or seek to finish their playing days at another club and then (assistant) coach there.

Even as his side struggled early against the Crows, Pendlebury took a moment to appreciate fellow veteran Taylor Walker’s 700th career goal – a sublime free-kick conversion from the scoreboard pocket late in the opening term.

“Tex’s goal that he kicked was amazing and the way the crowd celebrated that was unreal,” Pendlebury said.

“Tex is an icon of our game and such a great player.

“I knew he’d kick one, so when he had that shot, I was half-hoping that this would be a nice moment for him.”

The surging Magpies have now won six straight to suddenly sit just two points outside the top four.

While Collingwood’s belief is now being rewarded on the scoreboard, Pendlebury insisted they were never far away, even when results weren’t going their way earlier in the season.

“I’ve been around long enough to know it’s a long season and there’s going to be patches where you win close games, patches where you lose close games,” he said.

“Even in that patch of close losses, we felt like we weren’t far away.

“It is nice to get some confidence at this time of the year.”

While Pendlebury remains undecided about his future, Magpies coach Craig McRae believes the five-time Copeland Trophy winner will ultimately drive the conversation.

“Honestly, I think that will be a lot on him – that’s the way I see it,” McRae said.

“I’m not a part of contracts – I’ve never negotiated a contract in my life.

“What I’ll say is he’ll lead that narrative more than most.“We’ll see how that plays out.”

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