Star AFL ruckman and Melbourne skipper Max Gawn says he wouldn’t be shaking Scott Pendlebury’s hand before his record-breaking match on Saturday if he were an Eagle.

The Collingwood veteran will break the league’s games record at the MCG, surpassing North Melbourne legend Brent Harvey.

However, the historic occasion has attracted its share of criticism, with the Pies having manipulated their schedule to ensure Pendlebury makes history at the home of footy against an opponent they feel is more likely to deliver a positive result: West Coast.

The Eagles, who have adopted the name Waalitij Marawar for Sir Doug Nicholls round, claimed last year’s wooden spoon with only one victory.

And while they have improved significantly in 2026 and enter the clash after a 17-point upset win over the Giants in Perth, they still sit 15th on the ladder.

They also have a woeful record on the road across the last three seasons.

West Coast coach Andrew McQualter has said this week his side is embracing the role of party poopers ahead of facing an expected crowd of around 90,000.

But Gawn, who has plenty of experience playing in front of hostile Pies fans, said the Eagles players might be better off ignoring Pendlebury’s milestone altogether.

“It’s almost better ignoring it, I think, because you don’t want to make any game bigger than what it has to be,” he told Triple M.

“It’s hard to ignore because this has been everywhere. I actually haven’t thought about it. How would I go as West Coast captain this week, and all that noise is coming?

“I would try and get people to not think about it, but I agree with Kane (Cornes) a little bit, I wouldn’t be shaking his hand before the game.”

Ignoring the moment will be easier said than done, with the Eagles set to face the largest crowd the club has ever played in front of outside of finals.

Former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire played into the tongue-in-cheek counter narrative surrounding Saturday’s match: Eagles young gun Harley Reid’s 50th AFL game.

Many have joked fans are rocking up to see the man who will replace Pendlebury as one of the league’s superstars once the champion hangs up his boots and McGuire joked Reid would receive his own guard of honour alongside the Pies hero.

“It’s great that West Coast are coming over,” he told SEN on Thursday.

“I have a real regard for the West Coast Eagles, I think I made that point after they beat us in 2018 (for the flag).

“They are a mighty club and it’s great we’re actually up against a good club. And of course we realise over here in Melbourne it’s secondary but Harley Reid’s 50th is coming up this week.

“So, we’re going to have a guard of honour for Harley.”

He also shouted out The West’s Tuesday backpage which also celebrated Reid’s 50th match while light-heartedly teasing Collingwood.

“I did love The West Australian’s backpage the other day, it was fantastic,” he said.

In the onfield contest, Gawn suggested McQualter’s use of the tag, which worked to a strong effect against Greater Western Sydney, should continue, and Pendlebury could be an option, with Brady Hough likely to be given a shutdown job on Nick Daicos.

“They’ll definitely tag Daicos,” he said.

“They tagged three people on the weekend, and it worked, so there’s an angle that it does happen.”