Scott Pendlebury made his debut for my beloved Magpies some nine days after my sixth birthday.
In the time since, I've finished school and graduated from university, I've moved interstate and in about a month's time, I'll turn 26.
In that same period, the boy from Sale has forged a career of distinction. You know the resume. Two flags. A Norm. Five Copelands. Six blazers. Twice, the league's best captain. The Coaches' Association Champion Player of the Year. And as of Saturday, four Anzac Medals - going past James Hird for outright most in the decorated day's history.
It is simply astonishing. 38 years of age, and still running rings around his contemporaries.
A new personal best for disposals in a game, with 43, in game 431. The second time in his career he's notched 40+, and he did it 13 years after the first time he achieved that feat.
Two goals - and blimey, didn't the faithful appreciate them.
His name garnered the loudest cheer when premiership medallions were handed out in 2023. He holds a special place in the hearts of Collingwood fans. He's always been dependable. There, when we need him. You know what you'll get from Scotty. First-in-class professionalism, uncompromising effort, and a cool head.
Because of his set-and-forget reliability, I had a hunch on Saturday. I'm no real punter, but I just had to have a flutter when I saw that bookmakers had the ageless wonder at $26 for best-on honours, on a day he'd dominated thrice before.
The celebratory schooners were paid for with Pendlebury's exceptional winding back of the clock.
"Pendles'" longevity makes sense. His is a cerebral style of play; his strength has always been an uncanny ability to find or create space where there seemingly is none. A style based in exquisite skill execution and the bettering of those around him, as opposed to the bullocking, tackle-busting of those he's shared so many fields with.
And yes, it helps that he's not on a plane 14 times a year.
I love what "Fly", coach Craig McRae, said after the game.
"I don't want to be older and greyer and think "I wish I'd appreciated him more,"" he said.
Well, that's not a worry for me.
This man has been a fixture of my footballing fandom since before I could tie my own shoelaces with any real confidence. I will likely shed a tear when this Rolls Royce of a footballer parks himself in the garage for good. But I will not be accused of failing to appreciate his greatness while his opponents are still befallen by it.
I will stand and applaud, as I so often have, when "Pendles" passes "Boomer" for the games record in a few weeks' time, and I will tell my grandchildren of the magnificence of his play. One of Collingwood's very favourite sons, and one of my very favourite players.
Thanks for everything, Scotty.
