Hawthorn premiership player Isaac Smith has told a hilarious story about how Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury saved him, moments before the two were set to battle in the 2011 Preliminary Final.
Smith explains how traffic chaos in what was his first year of footy led to him needing Pendlebury’s help to make the game on time.
“In the 2011 Preliminary Final I was coming to the ground and a truck had conveniently crashed into the Richmond railway bridge there on Punt Road,” he told AFL Nation.
“Players were parking ages away and walking into the ground and Scott Pendlebury had to spot me $20 to get into a carpark because I didn’t have any cash on me.
“They wouldn’t let me into the carpark to park my car, it was an old Toyota Camry and it was my first year of footy, so I just thought I’m going to leave it and they can tow it and I’ll buy a new one.
“I think I rolled in 35 minutes before the game.”
“I was pretty anxious. I’m not someone who usually gets overly anxious, I get more excited, but that night I was fairly anxious.”
Collingwood would win that Prelim by three points in an all-time classic.
Smith gathered 20 disposals and took five marks in the game, while Pendlebury picked up 32 touches.