Pendlebury speaks for the first time after bombshell departure

For the first time following his bombshell departure from Collingwood, Scott Pendlebury has spoken to the media on his decision to leave the club.

After being drafted with pick No. 5 in 2005 by the Magpies and playing 442 games in black and white stripes, the 38-year-old has decided he’ll continue his playing career up north with the Gold Coast Suns on a reported four-year deal which will see him play for two years before moving into coaching.

It's been a decorated career with Collingwood, having won two Premierships, a Norm Smith Medal, 6x All-Australians, 5x Copeland Trophy (club best and fairest) winner and 4x ANZAC Day Medals throughout his 21 seasons and 442 games.

The decision comes after Collingwood’s season came to an end on Friday night when they lost by three points to the Western Bulldogs at the MCG in the first-ever Wildcard final.

In his opening statement, Pendlebury said that everyone involved in the decision agreed with the call made.

"I'm so grateful that we've got great leaders at this football club to sit down and have a mature conversation and work out what's best for everyone involved and for my career to progress and go forward for this football club," he told the media at the KGM Centre.

"We're all completely aligned, and it's always a tough time of year with finals in the season finishing so quickly. It probably caught me a little bit off guard last night; I just didn't see a way that we were going to lose that game.

"It happens quickly, and here we are today, but yeah, I really wanted to take the opportunity to say thanks, not only to the football club, but to the fans, to the members.

"Even last night, I was really conscious as well; I wanted to make sure Sidey (Steele Sidebottom) had his moment, walking off with his kids. That was beautiful, and I didn't want to distract from that at all."

Whilst the announcement came shortly after their season concluded, the 38-year-old did acknowledge the interest from Gold Coast only came recently and that it was the only club in the running for his services.

"It sort of happened pretty late in the piece," he explained.

"I feel like I'm going to say the same thing, but when you get great leaders and great organisations, and you can sit together and make a mature decision, it makes this one that sits comfortably with me and my family, and I know it sits comfortably with the football club.

"It's the only club (the Suns) that showed interest in."

The Suns will not have to part with any draft capital with Pendlebury joining as an unrestricted free agent.