Matthew Scharenberg Biography

Matt Scharenberg will return from his third ACL reconstruction in career-best shape in the VFL on Sunday.

After posting personal best sprint and 2km time trial times in his latest recovery, the 23-year-old will play his first match since July last season against Port Melbourne.

"It's been a long journey for a bloke like 'Shaz' who hasn't played as much footy as he would've liked to over the time, but you can't do anything about what's gone," Magpies coach Nathan Buckley said.

"He's been pretty good about coming back to today and what he's in control of and what he can impact."

Scans confirm that Matthew Scharenberg will require a third knee reconstruction.

Matt Scharenberg has been left shattered by the expectation scans on will confirm he needs a third knee reconstruction.

A simple change of direction floored the 22-year-old in the final term of Collingwood's loss to Richmond at the MCG.

"He's shattered. He's a young bloke who loves his footy and he's been through his fair share with his feet and then his ACLs," Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said afterwards.

"In these last 12 months, he's been able to play quite a bit of footy and shown more than glimpses of the ability we know he has.

"There's not a lot of light at the end of the tunnel right now for him, he's shattered and not in a great spot."

Matthew Scharenberg, who is in career-best form in 2018, signs a new deal with Collingwood to remain at the club until the end of 2020.

A highly rated junior, the 22-year-old endured a run of knee and foot issues after being snared with pick six in the 2013 NAB AFL Draft.

But Scharenberg has overcome those setbacks and is averaging 21 disposals in 11 games in 2018, playing mainly across half-back.

Matthew Scharenberg is so far averaging 20.7 disposals and four rebound 50s per game in 2018, putting together the most consistent block of football in his injury-hit career.

"It came down to having more impact (on games) and doing what I needed to be able to do that," Scharenberg said.

"Then it was about stripping everything right back and focusing on my role as a defender and getting those things right."

Matthew Scharenberg plays in only his fifth career AFL game after spending 630 days out of action after another knee reconstruction.

"Having spent the time out that I have, it was just so good to be back out there playing games and playing good footy," he said.

"It has surprised me how much that side of things does play on your mind, the mental side of coming back from a knee.

"But I think that's why being able to do a full pre-season was so good for me. I was able to use that as a confidence builder, so in the season now, I'm fully confident and know that I've put in all the work.

"Getting over a few of those mental hurdles were pretty big."

Matthew Scharenberg continues to dominate in the VFL, but Magpies coach Nathan Buckley has still given no clear indication whether the backman is closing in on his first game for the season.

Scharenberg racked up 41 disposals in the VFL against the undefeated Box Hill last Saturday and picked up 34 in each of the two weeks before that.

"Clearly getting a lot of the footy. He's played in our back half and played a little bit on the wing on the weekend," Buckley said.

"All he can continue to do is play the role that's expected of him in the manner that he's gone about it. His opportunities will come soon enough."

Matt Scharenberg is on track to resume his career in the JLT Community Series after missing 2016 due to a knee reconstruction.

"Our expectations are really tempered by the fact he's only just getting some clear air now," Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said.

"He has had a wretched run but he has been able to get back on par. He has had no hiccups through pre-season.

"He has put a good fitness block in and he is probably in a position now where he can find out what sort of an AFL footballer he is going to be."

Jonty Scharenberg says he was shattered when he learnt of his brother, Matt Scharenberg, suffering a second ACL tear in November of 2015.

"I was just shattered for him. I sent him a text straight away but I just couldn't believe it," he said.

"Seeing the hard work he's gone through and for it to happen again is pretty frustrating for him, but I'm sure he'll be able to bounce back."

Scharenberg, 17, hopes to join his older brother at the top level via this year's NAB AFL Draft, having impressed last season for South Australia's under-18 team and even breaking into Glenelg's senior SANFL side.

"Seeing Matt go through his knee injuries shows that AFL life doesn't always go your way. It's not always smooth. There's a lot of challenges along the way and it takes a lot of hard work so I've seen that," he said.

"He's started his rehab back at the club now and he's happy with that, so I'm really keen for him to get back into it."

Matthew Scharenberg's second knee reconstruction has gone to plan with the unlucky defender now targeting a 2017 return.

"Matthew's surgery was conducted earlier this week, and all indications are that everything went to plan," Magpies football manager Neil Balme said.

"With his fantastic attitude, we are confident he will attack his rehabilitation in a professional manner to ensure he makes a full and proper recovery."

Matthew Scharenberg will require a second knee reconstruction that will likely rule him out for the entire 2016 season after rupturing his right anterior cruciate ligament at training.

Scharenberg, 20, ruptured his left ACL playing for Collingwood's VFL team last August, but returned to make his AFL debut in round 18 this year against Melbourne, one of four senior games he played in 2015.

"This is obviously disappointing for everyone but foremost for Matthew," Collingwood football director Neil Balme said.

"That said, he is only 20 years of age, he has his career before him and he is made of the right stuff. He has the mental strength and dedication to overcome a difficulty like this.

"We will look after him with all the care we can offer, to make the period before his return as smooth as possible."

Matt Scharenberg says he never seriously considered a move home to Adelaide before signing a new three-year deal with Collingwood last month.

There had been speculation that the South Australian was exploring the possibility of returning to his home state, but the defender said that he did not contemplate leaving the Magpies.

"I always wanted to put it (contract talks) off until the end of the season and play some senior footy and get those games under my belt," Scharenberg said.

"I sat down and got it all done and it's been good to move on with it now.

"There was never any discussion with Adelaide and it was always about playing good footy at Collingwood and making sure I ticked a few boxes there."

Matthew Scharenberg signs a new three-year deal to remain at the Magpies until the end of 2018.

"Matthew has not enjoyed an easy transition into AFL football. He has had to move out of home, shift interstate and then overcome two serious injuries in his first two seasons with us, a scenario that would test the resilience of a hardened veteran," Collingwood list manager Derek Hine said.

"What he showed us throughout that time, when he wasn't playing, was a dedication and commitment to his club and his career.

"To draft Matthew when we did made it clear that we had a very high opinion of him. And we saw glimpses of his poise and game reading ability when he broke into the team late in the season.

"But he isn't just a fine prospect. He has proved to us that he is also a driven and mentally tough individual who has the grit to complement his natural talent."

Matthew Scharenberg makes his AFL debut for Collingwood at the MCG with 16 disposals (6 kicks and 10 handballs) and a mark in a 37-point loss to Melbourne.

After a horror run of injuries that's confined him to the rehab group for much of his first 18 months at Collingwood, Matthew Scharenberg is happy just to be playing again.

Since joining the Magpies via pick No.6 in the 2013 national draft, Scharenberg has been sidelined by foot problems that required surgery last February to remove sesamoid bones, and a ruptured left anterior cruciate ligament that he suffered in a VFL game late last August.

The South Australian has played just eight VFL games in his time at the Westpac Centre – five late last season and this year's past three rounds.

But he is not dwelling on the tough start to his AFL career, preferring to focus all his energies on pushing for a senior debut sooner rather than later.

"It's just great to be back out playing footy again after such a long time in rehab, I'm very happy to be back," Scharenberg told AFL.com.au.

"(Returning in) eight months is pretty quick for your standard ACL so I was very happy with how it all went.

"My knee is really good, it's holding up really well and it's been recovering well from the games. I couldn't be happier with how it's been going.

"Like all young players I hope to play (senior football) as soon as I can.

"For me now it's just about putting my best foot forward in the VFL and obviously getting that match fitness as well after spending a fair bit of time out of the game."

Matt Scharenberg is set to finally make his comeback just eight months after undergoing a knee reconstruction.

Now almost seven months down the track from knee surgery, Matthew Scharenberg is only one month away from a return to the field.

"It's been extremely tough, but at the same time I've always been conscious of not putting too much pressure on myself," Scharenberg said.

"Everything that's happened, I haven't really been able to control. Injuries are part of the game and it's just unfortunate that they've occurred at the start of my career."

Matthew Scharenberg's horrible run of luck has continued, with the young Magpie rupturing his ACL during the Magpies' VFL win over Bendigo.

He left the ground on crutches, and on Saturday morning scans confirmed the Pies' worst fears - he requires a knee reconstruction.

Collingwood confirmed Scharenberg would have a traditional reconstruction in the coming weeks.

"It's terribly disappointing news," Collingwood's director of football Rodney Eade said.

"He's a robust kid who has already demonstrated his resilience with us to get back and play this year.

"We're very much looking forward to seeing the best of Matthew Scharenberg."

Collingwood's prized top draft pick Matthew Scharenberg is set to play his long-awaited first VFL game for the club on Sunday.

Scharenberg, pick No. 6 in last year's draft, had surgery on both his feet in February and has slowly built up his running program over the last couple of months.

The 18-year-old missed the end of his season with SANFL club Glenelg, and also sat out last year's NAB AFL Draft Combine, as he battled sesamoiditis and the problems flared up again in his first AFL pre-season.

Collingwood will be patient with No.6 draft pick Matt Scharenberg as he recovers from injury.

Scharenberg, last year's No.6 pick, had an operation on both feet in February and is back running. However, no date has been set for his return.

Magpies football manager Rodney Eade told AFL.com.au Scharenberg was ticking the boxes as he moved through each stage of his rehabilitation.

"He's been running outside for a little while now and we're just steadily increasing [the volume] step by step," Eade said.

Collingwood remains hopeful its first pick in the NAB AFL Draft, Matt Scharenberg, will have the chance to play football towards the end of the season after undergoing major surgery last Thursday.

Magpie coach Nathan Buckley said Scharenberg was resting up with his family in Adelaide after having the sesamoid bones removed from his left and right foot.

He said Scharenberg was in the unusual position of having his feet up in the air post-surgery, just months after being selection at No.6 and before playing a game for Collingwood.

"That is his lot for the next couple of weeks," Buckley said at the club's AGM.

"He'll get back on his feet in about six weeks time and we'll expect him to train and be right to get a crack at it towards the end of the season."

Collingwood No.6 draft pick Matthew Scharenberg will undergo surgery this week on the foot problems that have held him back in his first pre-season.

Scharenberg, who has been doing non-weight bearing training since joining the club in November, will have the sesamoid bone in both his feet removed.

Already set to miss the start of the season as he works through the injury, the operations will push back his expected return to football by four to six weeks.

"He is a very talented player but he is young and we were always taking a long term approach with him. There was a small amount of lingering pain and with the operation he will have some certainty of an outcome," football director Rodney Eade said in a Collingwood statement.

"There is no real time frame on his return but all going well he should be running and seriously preparing to play in late May."

Matt Sharenberg says he is unsure when he'll start full training as he recovers from stress reactions in his feet.

"I've been on a modified program, just doing rehab mainly and trying to get the feet right," Scharenberg said.

"It's still been pretty solid and lots of hard work, but it's been good.

"(My feet) are getting better. We're taking it one day at a time and each week at a time.

"There's no point really trying to look into the future. I've just got to do what's in my control and go from there."