He raised his arms and clapped his hands to acknowledge the celebration.
Pendlebury's kids, Jax and Darcy, were the first thing he saw as he led the Pies up the race before the game, running out with the pair through a banner emblazoned with the celebratory logo.
The last people who congratulated him prior to running out on to the ‘G were the other members of the 400-game club.
He finished with 20 disposals, five clearances and five score involvements. He's had bigger games, but he brought his trademark touch of class.
He did that all despite the extra hurrah around everything he did: the Pendles cam, the boots designed his kids, wearing bling into the 'G which will be auctioned off, a crowd that came specifically for his milestone, and more.
The game threatened to go off-script on several occasions, but the Pies' experience shone through in key moments to ensure the highly publicised build-up got its just outcome.
With Moore injured, Pendlebury called on his leadership at three-quarter-time and when there was a game stoppage late in the last quarter, due to a serious Jamie Elliott injury, marshalling his troops in a tight encounter.
He wore a Fox Footy microphone throughout the game and had a camera following his every move throughout the game as the broadcasters capitalised on the significant interest in the milestone.
The imagery showed Pendlebury was at times able to look around the colosseum and soak up the atmosphere; just as vivid was the significant role he played as on-field mentor.
“There has been a lot of requests for my time but credit to the footy club, they really looked after me. They knew what I liked to do and allowed me to have a normal-ish week,” Pendlebury said on Fox Footy as the crowd chanted “Pendles.”
“We've tried to embrace the week but I think towards the last bit there I could feel the week catching up, I was out of legs. I was pretty cooked at stages. I'm so pumped as well for the boys to get the win in front of 93,000 fans.
“When you get drafted, every kid wants to experience the ultimate experience and getting drafted to Collingwood, I feel like I've experienced the ultimate. I get to play on this ground like it's the Sale Footy Club every week in front of 93,000 today which is absolutely nuts. I just love it.”
Pendlebury shared a story post-game which highlighted the heightened emotion of the week for the entire footy fraternity.
"I was in Elwood doing some shopping and there was people across the road and they stood up and started clapping me," Pendlebury recalled.
"I was carrying a box, there was a pumpkin and other stuff and I looked around as if to say "who are you clapping?" and they were clapping me. They were like "good luck tomorrow" and they were going off.
"It was just a lot of stuff throughout the week that was just surreal. Boomer (Brent Harvey) said to me earlier in the week "the week will just be madness" and I didn't know what he meant. It was a bit of fun but at times it caught me off-guard."
Usually an understated character who has deflected attention away from himself throughout his career – and when addressing the media this week – he handled the spotlight with aplomb as he was loudly applauded each time he got the footy.
Pendlebury and each of the Magpies players wore a gold guernsey – not just the record-breaker, as had been expected, adding another fine touch to a special day.
The Eagles denied the Magpies the chance to properly enjoy the win. It was hard fought, the visitors staying within arm's length until the very end.
“It feels like it's been an eternity but it's gone quick at the same time. I thought I was playing basketball at one stage when I threw the ball out of the pack but the umpires were onto me,” Pendlebury added.
“They should've let that one slip but it's been a hell of a ride and there's still more in the tank, though.”
