It’s been a long time since Matthew Scharenberg has played senior football.

In fact, by Sunday, it will have been 630 days.

But that wait may finally be ready to come to a close, with Scharenberg named in Collingwood’s extended 25-man squad to take on Brisbane at the MCG.

The 21-year-old has been named on the half back flank, and shapes as a potential replacement for absent pair James Aish (injured) and Henry Schade (omitted).



The inclusions
Scharenberg is averaging 29.0 disposals per game in six outings at VFL level this year.

He has struck a purple patch in recent times, collecting 34 disposals for two weeks running before winning a further 41 disposals against Box Hill last Saturday.

As has been well documented, Scharenberg has endured a wretched run with injuries in recent years.



Matthew Scharenberg made a return from knee surgery in the JLT Community Series earlier this year.

He underwent surgery on his feet shortly after he was recruited with pick No. 6 in the 2013 National Draft. Debuting in the VFL late in the year, he tore his ACL in the final home and away game in Bendigo and underwent a full reconstruction.

A full recovery allowed him to make his AFL debut in round 18 of 2015, only to damage his other ACL during pre-season training months later. He would endure another year on the sidelines.

Elsewhere, Tim Broomhead, Jackson Ramsay, Ben Crocker and Mason Cox have all been added to the 25-man squad.

Broomhead and Ramsay were among the best in the VFL last Saturday, while Crocker has kicked seven goals in five games, including two in each of the past two weeks.

Cox has not played senior football since round seven, but was the carryover player for last week’s win over Hawthorn.



Ben Crocker played 10 games in his debut season of 2017.

A new number for Wells
Wingman Daniel Wells is one of 10 players to be allocated a change of jumper number for Indigenous Round.

Wells will join six other players league-wide in wearing No. 67 this weekend.

The number commemorates the year of the referendum that ensured indigenous Australians would be counted in the census and allowed the federal government to make laws for them.

VFL Update
There will be no VFL matches played this week, as the competition pauses for the state game bye.

Victoria will host Western Australia at North Port Oval on Saturday afternoon.

Jordan Kelly is Collingwood’s sole representative in the VFL squad.

Collingwood v Brisbane
Round 10 2017
Sunday 28 May
MCG, 1.10pm

Collingwood
B: Jeremy Howe, Lynden Dunn, Brayden Maynard
HB: Josh Smith, Tyson Goldsack, Matthew Scharenberg
C: Steele Sidebottom, Scott Pendlebury, Daniel Wells
HF: Jordan De Goey, Alex Fasolo, Will Hoskin-Elliott
F: Jarryd Blair, Darcy Moore, Jamie Elliott
Foll: Brodie Grundy, Taylor Adams, Adam Treloar
Int (from): Levi Greenwood, Tom Phillips, Jack Crisp, Tim Broomhead, Jackson Ramsay, Ben Crocker, Mason Cox

IN: Tim Broomhead, Mason Cox, Ben Crocker, Jackson Ramsay, Matthew Scharenberg
OUT: James Aish (cheekbone), Henry Schade (omitted)