A tall former basketballer with great athleticism who came from Sale and Gippsland Under-18s. He had to wait until halfway through 2006 for a senior chance and goaled with his first kick. He showed good anticipation and a lively approach, and it was soon evident that the Magpies had a player capable of building a long career. His Under-18 coach Paul Hudson once described him as "the Mark Waugh of footy, because he's got a lot of time, even though he isn't quick." It was said that his great awareness was born out of his basketball background and at the age of 17 it was still his favored sport. He admitted that when he went to Collingwood he wasn't even aware of all the footy vernacular. In 2007 he progressed rapidly to run second in the Copeland Trophy voting and and by the following year he was part of the leadership group. His coach Mick Malthouse said: "He's one of those players where the game stops around him and he sorts it out". Pendlebury was blessed with great vision at stoppages and the capacity to find a hole and weave his way out. He was also able to stop in the middle of his kicking action and give himself extra time. His 2009 campaign ended on a sour note with a leg fracture sustained in the finals. In the 2010 Grand Final he was below par and it was later revealed he had suffered a bout of gastro that saw him lose six kilos. In the Replay he sliced up St Kilda with his precise use of the ball and won the Norm Smith Medal. Never a huge accumulator of disposals, his strength lay in the value he got with every kick or handball. He was selected as an All-Australian in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, and ran third in the 2011 Brownlow. He was Copeland Trophy winner in 2011 and also won the award in 2013. He was runner-up in the club best and fairest in 2007, 2010 and 2012 and third in 2008, and was named the successor to Nick Maxwell as Magpie skipper for 2014.