AFL cult figure Mason Cox has fiercely defended his former teammate Scott Pendlebury amid controversy over the financial windfall Pendlebury is set to receive when he plays his 433rd game against West Coast next Saturday. The match will make Pendlebury the most capped player in AFL/VFL history, but rival clubs have raised concerns that the money earned from the milestone sits outside Collingwood's salary cap.
Pendlebury's Lucrative Milestone
Pendlebury is expected to pocket around $500,000 from the record-breaking game. He will wear up to 12 guernseys throughout the match, which will be auctioned off, along with custom boots, wine, and a limited edition watch. It is estimated that the match-worn jumpers alone could earn him over $300,000. However, at least five rival clubs are reportedly furious about the situation, questioning whether the earnings should be counted under the salary cap.
Cox Fires Back at Critics
Speaking on his ESPN podcast, Cox launched an impassioned defence of Pendlebury, accusing critics of engaging in tall poppy syndrome. "It pisses me off. I'm just infuriated by this because everyone's out there talking about him making money rather than celebrating what is the greatest football player we've probably seen," Cox said.
"Tall poppy syndrome is well and truly alive ... and there's no better case of it right now. You're talking about, I'll be honest, the most consistent player that's ever played the game. And let's say this, Pendles has not laid a foot wrong. He's never really got any media scrutiny or media trouble or anything like that. A lot of you other media people probably have and you're telling me that you can't celebrate this guy?"
Cox dismissed the criticism over the gold tin jumper and other merchandise, stating, "Who really cares? It's like if you want to do it, do it, it's his game where he's breaking a record that may never be done again. Give him some kind of independence to make a decision to do that ... and all we're talking about is, 'Oh man, he might make a dollar.' Well, heaven forbid. Dude, seriously, I'm like, are you kidding me? As he should! As he should! He should make as much money as he wants."
Cox challenged detractors to match Pendlebury's achievements, saying, "And if you're not happy with that then, oh, hey, how about you go do what he's done. But you can't do it. You know why? Because you're not good enough. And you just have to swallow that pill, OK? You're not good enough. So stop trying to throw all these things at Pendles. Heaven forbid you make money in a sport that's heavily underpaying their players."
He added, "It's the most absurd, ridiculous thing that pisses me off. I'm just infuriated by this because everyone's out there talking about him making money rather than celebrating what is the greatest football player we've probably seen and we're all sitting there talking about him making cash. Yes, I would hope that the guy who's literally represented the league in the best way possible over the longest time gets a bit of cash along the way."
Cox concluded, "Like he's still gonna have to probably work a job once he's done and he's the best thing you guys have ever produced and you're pissed off he's still making money off it. It blows my mind and it pisses me off that I'm seeing this in the media. Let the man live. If he wants to rock out there in gold-plated boots, I don't care. Do what you want because you're a better player than any of us speaking. Live it up, soak it up, enjoy it. We should all just sit back and watch and just be in awe and appreciate the man that has been, and the man that will continue to be, a great role model for the AFL. And stop bitching and complaining about him making a dollar."
Rival Clubs Express Anger
Veteran AFL journalist Caroline Wilson first raised the issue on Channel 7's The Agenda Setters, revealing that she had spoken to five other clubs who are "absolutely filthy" about the situation. While Collingwood denies any salary cap manipulation, Wilson noted that Geelong would be particularly interested given their recent fine for sloppy paperwork regarding third-party payments.
"I've spoken to five other clubs who are absolutely filthy about it," Wilson said. "And look, Collingwood deny, and we take them at their word, that there was not a negotiation done where maybe Scott received unders last year knowing he was going to get the money this year. We take them at their word. The question must be asked by the clubs."
Wilson added, "I'm not going to name names, and I have not spoken to anyone from the Geelong Football Club ... But we broke the story at the beginning of last season about third-party issues with Geelong that as it emerged, and we never said there was anything underhand, but there was some sloppy paperwork that had happened. They were fined the Geelong Football Club. It was a long-negotiated settlement. Now, if I was Geelong and I saw that report last night, I would be going, 'holy hell'."
Calls for AFL Intervention
Host Kane Cornes implored the AFL to step in and not allow the earnings to bypass the salary cap. "Is it the biggest loophole in recent salary cap memory, like that clubs can exploit this? They're looking at it going, well, if Collingwood have done this," he said. "The AFL can't accept, cannot allow this to happen. In a competition that's supposed to be even, and that is the biggest aim of the AFL, to make it even, this is a big issue and one that I think the AFL have dropped the ball on."
Carlton and Collingwood great Dale Thomas suggested that any potential earnings from such milestones should be capped. "I can understand how at a milestone in something as massive as the game's record, your Buddy Franklin's 1000th goal, you could do something slightly outside, but I think it should be capped. I think that's in fairness to the competition," he said.
Pendlebury has announced that he will donate a portion of the profits to My Room, a charity for children's cancer.
