The evergreen Collingwood superstar Scott Pendlebury is set to further etch himself into football folklore by taking the crown as the most capped AFL player in history, topping North Melbourne champion Brent Harvey's 432 games.
Pendlebury currently sits at 425 matches, spread across an incredible 20 seasons at an average of 21.25 outings per year.
If the 38-year-old plays every game early in 2026, he'll match Boomer's record on Anzac Day against Essendon - very fitting - in front of a packed and buzzing MCG.
The week after, the Pies host Hawthorn at the MCG on Thursday night. However, if Craig McRae opts to temper the veteran in the early part of the season, due to a pair of interstate trips (Round 4 - Queensland, Round 5 - South Australia), then Round 9 against Geelong at the home of football looms as another date with destiny.
The following fortnight will see Collingwood travel to Sydney in Round 10 and then return home against West Coast on a Saturday twilight fixture.
No players will reach the 400- or 350-game milestone, but a small collective should reach the tri-ton in 2026.
Mark Blicavs (295) and Lachie Neale (294) are all but certain to join 110 other players who have featured in 300 or more games.
Jack Gunston (283) and Jeremy Cameron (280) are also within a shot of joining Blicavs and Neale, as are Brad Hill (277) and Jack Crisp (274). However, the latter two will need more than everything to go right.
Technically, Ollie Wines (273), Dane Rampe and Jamie Cripps (272) are in reach given the extra game in Wildcard Round.
The next milestone (250 games) has 19 players closing in, led by the Demons' trio of Tom McDonald (249), Jake Melksham (248), and Max Gawn (247).
Another 35 players are inching closer to the double ton.
As for goal kicking, two of the modern-day elite proponents of the skill will like notch up another landmark occasion.
Cameron (736 goals) should topple Richmond legend Matthew Richardson's 800-goal record in 2026, needing just 65 majors. It would place the Cat's gun 12th on the all-time leaderboard.
Adelaide's Taylor Walker (680) is also creeping up the tally, and should enter the 700-goal realm this year, which could sit him among the top 25 goal kickers of the sport.
Jack Darling (556) and Jack Gunston (554) would need strong seasons to reach 600 goals, while Tiger tall Tom Lynch (488) needs 12 majors to hit the 500 mark.
Players within reach of 300 career games: Mark Blicavs (295), Lachie Neale (294), Jack Gunston (283), Jeremy Cameron (280), Brad Hill (277), Jack Crisp (274), Ollie Wines (273), Dane Rampe (272), Jamie Cripps (272)
Players within reach of 250 career games: Tom McDonald (249), Jake Melksham (248), Max Gawn (247), Brodie Grundy (242), Harris Andrews (239), Jack Viney (237), Dion Prestia (237), Tom Lynch (236), Nick Haynes (234), Ryan Lester (233), Patrick Cripps (230), Josh Kelly (230), Brayden Maynard (229), Taylor Adams (229), Rhys Stanley (229), Jake Stringer (227), Stephen Coniglio (227), Isaac Heeney (224)
Players within reach of 200 career games: Eric Hipwood (199), Christian Salem (199), Rory Lobb (199), Daniel McStay (198), Jake Kolodjashnij (198), Blake Hardwick (198), Darcy Moore (195), Karl Amon (195), Josh Dunkley (194), Tom Stewart (191), Jayden Short (190), Dan Houston (189), Blake Acres (187), Jake Lever (186), Jarrod Berry (184), Ollie Florent (184), Will Hayward (184), Darcy Gardiner (183), Jordan De Goey (182), Jesse Hogan (181), Andrew McGrath (180), Luke Ryan (179), James Sicily (179), Toby Nankervis (179), Aliir Aliir (179), Bailey Dale (178), Jade Gresham (177), Jed Bews (175), Tom Barrass (175), Zac Williams (174), Callum Mills (174), James Harmes (174), Bailey Williams (174), Jy Simpkin (173), Tim Taranto (173)
