Matt Scharenberg

[Demonland 73,140]

I can't believe that nobody has started a thread on this player yet so I'm doing so now with Whispering Jack's special draft feature:

Every year WJ nominates his early favourite for Melbourne's first draft selection. In the past, he's gone for Nathan Jones, Ben McEvoy, Tom Scully (ok, he's not foolproof) and more recently, Jack Viney. This year, it's a player who's also a favourite of one of the game's true personalities.

CHOCO'S CHOICE? by Whispering Jack

If the stars align in a certain way, then come November, Mark Williams will be coach of the Melbourne Football Club and Matt Scharenberg will be its first selection in the AFL National Draft.

According to this article Williams, who is one of the front runners for the Demons' coaching job, once described South Australian Scharenberg as "the best schoolboy footballer he had seen since Wayne Carey" - Matt Scharenberg could pip James Aish as the first South Australian drafted

I first saw the 190cm, 89kg Scharenberg tearing it up in defence as a bottom ager for SA at last year's under 18 national carnival and I pictured him as potentially growing into a quality key defender but this year he has added an extra dimension of versatility to his game. He now looks they type who could fill many positions including that of the taller type midfielder and that's what makes him an attractive proposition for the Demons.

There's been a lot of talk about midfielders in this year's draft discussion because most AFL clubs can't have enough of them (particularly in the 180-190cm range) and, in Melbourne's case, it has hardly any of quality in this category. And while most are concentrating on the likes of James Aish, Josh Kelly and Jack Billings in the draft's current quality street, I am tending toward's Choco's view.

The reigning Brownlow Medallist stands at 191cm and Chris Judd is 189cm so if we're seriously looking for the prototype midfielder of the future, Scharenberg is of the right size and, on what I saw in this year's national carnival, has the skill set, the right physical and mental make up to excel as an on baller at the highest level.

Scharenberg was a member of this year's championship winners, shared his State's MVP with midfielder Luke Dunstan and, albeit as a defender, made it back to back into the under-18 All-Australian team (a rare honour shared this year with Aish and Billings). Kelly and another hot midfield prospect Dom Sheed (the Larke Medallist) also earned AA status this year.

Scharenberg is currently playing senior football at SANFL level with Glenelg and shone last week with more than 20 touches in a team that was well beaten.

With Melbourne a possibility of gaining some draft assistance from the AFL at the end of the year, it's possible that this year's draft might well yield it with two of the best of this bunch and otherwise, there is further quality and depth in this year's midfield that might bring another to the club via its second round pick.

But Scharenberg is going to be a hard choice to resist at the November draft especially if the coach happens to be the one who compared him to one of the modern era's greatest players.

[beelzebub 23,383]

just as long as hes not 192 sign him up

[Lord Travis 10,763]

We need gun midfielders and Scharenberg hasn't shown he can play midfield as well as he can play in the backline. I'd pass purely because he isn't a midfielder, and though he has a great build and good skills, we need midfielders, not utilities or more 190cm defenders.

[DeeMfc 621]

just as long as hes not 192 sign him up

Yep! Confucius say....

[Jesse Christ 2,884]

We need gun midfielders and Scharenberg hasn't shown he can play midfield as well as he can play in the backline. I'd pass purely because he isn't a midfielder, and though he has a great build and good skills, we need midfielders, not utilities or more 190cm defenders.

Agreed. If we don't go for pure midfielders with our first couple of picks at least, I just about give up!

[beelzebub 23,383]

We need gun midfielders and Scharenberg hasn't shown he can play midfield as well as he can play in the backline. I'd pass purely because he isn't a midfielder, and though he has a great build and good skills, we need midfielders, not utilities or more 190cm defenders.

this goes to the core...hes more utility than stand up mid.

Better choices I think...for now

[rjay 25,091]

this goes to the core...hes more utility than stand up mid.

Better choices I think...for now

I think he's more than just a utility but will leave it to the recruiting guys to sort out. Last year Vlustuin played off half back in the champs and looks set to be a half decent mid.

If we have any Demonlanders in Adelaide may be they can report on his progress.

[DeeMfc 621]

this goes to the core...hes more utility than stand up mid.

Better choices I think...for now

True. But fwiw he is probably the closest to becoming the Ollie Wines type you were asking for in the other thread.

Depends on his ability to move laterally and his evasiveness as far as developing into a true mid. Seems pretty quick so speed shouldn't be an issue.

[Yossarian 1,820]

I like him because he looks like one of the mean kids in the Mighty Ducks. Which is what I want in a footballer.

[DeeMfc 621]

He is a natural footballer. Reads the play beautifully. And knows what's going on around him before deciding what to do. Still the question is 'can he become a true mid?' I see him developing like a Luke Hodge.

[Mister Ed 317]

We need gun midfielders and Scharenberg hasn't shown he can play midfield as well as he can play in the backline. I'd pass purely because he isn't a midfielder, and though he has a great build and good skills, we need midfielders, not utilities or more 190cm defenders.

Best player available.

[Lord Travis 10,763]

Best player available.

If it's as simple as that then we select James Aish and this discussion is over. Aish is a better footballer. Scharenberg himself even thinks so, and stated this in the interview in the OP.

"He's a great talent and a much better player than me,'' Scharenberg said.

[beelzebub 23,383]

True. But fwiw he is probably the closest to becoming the Ollie Wines type you were asking for in the other thread.

Depends on his ability to move laterally and his evasiveness as far as developing into a true mid. Seems pretty quick so speed shouldn't be an issue.

interesting conundrum

I really would like to see us get an OW type mid.. but a mid ,not a utility. Subtle difference i know but we need people who will forrage for the ball and not waste it when they have it. AH well with any luck we might get another 'early" pick

[Clark_Kent 315]

If it's as simple as that then we select James Aish and this discussion is over. Aish is a better footballer. Scharenberg himself even thinks so, and stated this in the interview in the OP.

"He's a great talent and a much better player than me,'' Scharenberg said.

I'm pretty sure he wouldn't say "oh yeah Aish is good but I'm better". I think you've got to think about what type of player Scharenberg could become. Dyson Heppell is a similar size and I think he has ended up being the best mid out of his draft.

[monoccular 17,574]

Best player available.

Best player available......provided he isn't a skinny mid, or a beanpole we may not need.

[Lord Travis 10,763]

I'm pretty sure he wouldn't say "oh yeah Aish is good but I'm better". I think you've got to think about what type of player Scharenberg could become. Dyson Heppell is a similar size and I think he has ended up being the best mid out of his draft.

If he had confidence and/or arrogance he would. Our own Jesse Hogan jokingly said he was the third best forward ever behind Carey and Dunstall when interviewed at Casey a few weeks back. That kind of confidence and arrogance is what we need, even if it is tongue in cheek.

I agree you have to look at the player they will become, but Scharenberg has not shown anything to suggest he will become a gun midfielder. He's dominated down back, and been average and struggled with the pace of the game when put into the midfield. He is a similar size to Heppell, slightly bigger, but he is far less agile, and his skills and composure are not as good as Heppell either. He's more physical than Heppell, but I just can't see him ever becoming a good midfielder as he's already shown he's struggled with the pace when amongst traffic up the ground.

By comparison Aish moves through traffic beautifully and hits targets under pressure. His skills are better than Scharenberg's, and he's quicker and more agile too. He's been tagged since he was 16 because he's widely recognized as being extremely damaging. He'll be the best player in this draft if he's developed properly. But there lies the key; we have struggled to develop talented players in recent times.

[Lord Travis 10,763]

For the record, James Aish was BOG in the SANFL today. 23 disposals and 3 goals and the highest DT rating on the ground. The kid is already doing it against men while getting tagged. He's a freak talent.

[rjay 25,091]

For the record, James Aish was BOG in the SANFL today. 23 disposals and 3 goals and the highest DT rating on the ground. The kid is already doing it against men while getting tagged. He's a freak talent.

This is the stuff that is going to be interesting as the year goes on and these kids filter back into the local comps.

[Ted Lasso 19,549]

if we get a pp him and aish would be nice

[rjay 25,091]

if we get a pp him and aish would be nice

That's the way I see it.

[BAMF 4,385]

Billy Stretch's best friend apparently.

[Ted Lasso 19,549]

That's the way I see it.

what sort of player comparisons would you make for Aish and Scharenberg? from what i have seen Aish is maybe a little bit like a dayne beams and scharenberg abit like a sam fisher as a defender but could probably become a Mundy type player and really add something as a mid

[The Yarra 83]

For the record, James Aish was BOG in the SANFL today. 23 disposals and 3 goals and the highest DT rating on the ground. The kid is already doing it against men while getting tagged. He's a freak talent.

Toumpas returned similar results fwiw.

[Lil_red_fire_engine 11,233]

Excluding Boyd who I have not seen play I think Aish has the most star quality of the draft. Scharenberg at worst will take Dunns spot in our backline from next year. At best he will be the quality tall mid we are searching for. If we have a priority my view is those 2 for sure but if we have 1, Aish for me.

[Lord Travis 10,763]

what sort of player comparisons would you make for Aish and Scharenberg? from what i have seen Aish is maybe a little bit like a dayne beams and scharenberg abit like a sam fisher as a defender but could probably become a Mundy type player and really add something as a mid

I'd say Aish plays like Cotchin, and Scharenberg reminds me of Sam Gilbert or Grant Birchall.

Aish will be a well rounded midfielder. He'll start off more outside due to currently weighing 74kgs, but once he adds a bit more size he will develop inside as well. He goes when it's his turn, and his movement trough traffic and ability to hit targets under pressure is brilliant.

I don't think Scharenberg will ever become a proper midfielder. He'll likely become the general of a teams backline in that he'll help his teammates out defensively and also rebound well. He'd definitely be an asset, but we need midfielders and Aish is a more talented player, we'd just need to develop him properly!