AFL games record: Scott Pendlebury enters top 5 with 400th game

Scott Pendlebury will enter the top five of AFL games played when he runs out for his 400th game against Carlton at the MCG in Round 21.

The Collingwood legend has already broken the record for most career disposals in 2024 and will now join the 400 game club alongside five other players.

Sports News lists the players who have played the most games in the AFL.

MORE: All-time VFL/AFL disposal record: Scott Pendlebury breaks 15-year mark in Collingwood win

Who has played the most AFL/VFL games?

Pendlebury’s 400th game against the Blues will see him level with Essendon veteran Dustin Fletcher for fifth on the all-time AFL/VFL games played list.

But he will still be 32 games behind Brent Harvey’s record of 432 games with North Melbourne.

Other players in the top five include Michael Tuck, Shaun Burgoyne and Kevin Bartlett.

Top 10 AFL/VFL game records

*indicates an active player

Can Scott Pendlebury break the AFL games record?

While Pendlebury would be a deserving holder of the AFL games record, it will be hard for the Magpies icon to achieve the honour.

Assuming the 36-year-old plays all of Collingwood’s home and away games from 2024, Pendlebury will finish the season with 403 games.

The Magpies can play a maximum of four finals in 2024, which would take Pendlebury to 407 games.

From there, he would need 26 games in 2025 to break Harvey’s record, which would require him to play 23 home and away games and three finals.

With Collingwood’s participation in the 2024 finals series still in doubt, Pendlebury’s ability to play a full season and the unlikely prospect of him continuing into 2026, he looks unlikely to claim the AFL games record.