Shocking moment footy star strikes rival during heated contest… but will he be punished?

Collingwood veteran Scott Pendlebury has landed himself in hot water after slapping Brisbane rival Lachie Neale.

Pendlebury, who has avoided suspension in 387 games, will face scrutiny following the incident during Thursday night’s win over the Lions – the Pies’ first of the season.

The midfielder admitted he ‘got sucked in’ and apologised to Neale after leaving the Brisbane star doubled over in pain following the outlash. 

‘After the game I said sorry to him. I didn’t mean to get him quite there and he said he did it last year and got a fine, so what will be will be,’ he told 7Sport. 

‘Retaliator always gets caught, mum told me that, and I got sucked in tonight.’ 

However, debate has raged on as to what punishment Pendlebury will cop for the move.

‘This is where the AFL ties itself in knots,’ SEN’s Sam Edmund tweeted. 

‘Had the chance to suspend George Hewett and botched it. Didn’t suspend Neale for a retaliation strike either. So Scott Pendlebury can’t go for that can he? Both incidents while waiting at a stoppage.’

Leigh Montagna said on Fox Footy: ‘It was very uncharacteristic of Pendles, very unsociable as well.

‘I think something like that, he might be getting a bit of a fine coming his way and hopefully that’s all.

‘It just shows what this means to both these teams that he’s prepared to do that.’

Last year’s Norm Smith Medallist Hill tormented the Brisbane defence again in the first quarter in front of a full house of 34,022 fans.

Both sides were error-riddled, dropping simple marks and missing targets in borderline comical scenes given the quality of their last encounter.

The Magpies’ speed told though, their ball movement too slick and direct as Hill popped up for three of five goals as the visitors threatened to tear the game open.

Dayne Zorko’s (30 disposals) lone hand showed the way though and senior teammates Hugh McCluggage and Neale (35 touches, 10 clearances) responded with powerful second quarters to help turn the tide.

McCluggage (29 disposals) had nine touches and Neale five clearances in the one-sided term, Neale booting an early goal in his return from a hamstring injury.

They kept coming but couldn’t take a mark, a 21-2 inside-50 count a reflection of their dominance as the Magpies were kept scoreless.

But the Lions didn’t hit the lead – Neale’s the only Brisbane mark inside 50 until late in the half – until Cam Rayner’s goal on the siren.

Collingwood rediscovered their run after the break, Nick Daicos (30 touches) emerging as a game-breaker as they built a 20-point margin at the final break.

The hosts kicked the first two of the final term to get within nine before Crisp’s effort, Elliot and Mihocek icing the contest as Lions fans headed for the exits with almost 10 minutes still to play.