The Magpies captain spent 14 minutes of the third quarter on the bench during a period which the Saints kicked four goals setting up a 9.15 (69) to 7.13 (55) victory.

Pendlebury had no injury issues when rested in the third quarter.

"Can I say if there wasn't an injury to Scott Pendlebury ... I can't believe that he's sat 14 minutes on the bench in the third quarter in a game that was there to be won," Ling told 3AW.

"That is unbelievable. The bloke's a star. Get him on the ground. You've got to have your captain and your superstar on the ground ... unless he is injured.

"That's the coach Nathan Buckley (who makes the decision). All the bloody sports scientists gone made ... you've got to win the game."

Buckley said post-game Pendlebury "probably wasn't as sharp" as he had been in previous games.

"We put a lot of emphasis on our leaders and we ask a lot of them," Buckley said.

"If you're going to be a leader in this caper, you've got to keep buttering up and backing up.

"Pendles, more often than not, he brings the right intent and energy. He was probably a little bit quieter tonight."