Matthew Scharenberg

Scharenberg played for amateur club PHOS Camden and for his school Immanuel College.^[2] He played state football at Glenelg, performing at a level which had him highly touted for the draft despite feet problems.^[3][4] Scharenberg represented South Australia in the AFL Under 18 Championships and was selected for the All-Australian team in the 2012 season^[5] and in the 2013 season.^[6] In 2013 he also was judged the most valuable player for South Australia, together with Luke Dunstan.^[7][8] During the Championships he averaged 22 disposals per game.^[9]

Scharenberg was recruited by Collingwood with the sixth selection in the 2013 AFL draft.^[10] He was touted by Mark Williams as the best schoolboy prospect since Wayne Carey.^[11] Following a knee reconstruction, Scharenberg made his AFL debut in round 18 of the 2015 season, against Melbourne at the MCG as a late inclusion for Tyson Goldsack.^[12] A month after his debut, at the end of the 2015 season, he was signed by Collingwood to a three-year contract extension.^[13] In November 2015, Scharenberg tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during training, only nine months after recovering from the same injury.^[14] Despite the setback and disappointment, he didn't stop believing in himself and didn't lose his passion for the game.^[15] Scharenberg returned to playing during the 2017 season, playing 10 games at the end of the season.^[16] In the 2018 season, he averaged 21 disposals, six marks and 3.5 rebound 50s in his first 11 games of the season, leading to him being re-signed by the club to a two-year contract extension.^[17] In round 19 which Collingwood lost to Richmond by 28 points, Scharenberg suffered his third anterior cruciate ligament injury.^[18] He returned to playing after another knee reconstruction through the Victorian Football League (VFL),^[19] averaging 22.3 disposals and seven marks in his first three games back.^[20]

Scharenberg was delisted by Collingwood at the conclusion of the 2020 season.^[21][22]

In early 2021, Scharenberg signed on to play for Olinda-Ferny Creek Football Club in the Outer East Football League for the 2021 season.^[23]

Scharenberg grew up in Adelaide,^[24] with his older brother Jake Scharenberg who plays for amateur club PHOS Camden and his younger brother Jonty Scharenberg who plays for Glenelg.^[25] Before choosing to concentrate exclusively on Australian rules football, Scharenberg played junior level baseball, representing Australia.^[26]

Statistics are correct to the end of the 2020 season^[27]