The 18 year-old South Australian, selected with pick six in the first round of last year’s draft, was recruited with the knowledge of pre-existing foot issues that are expected to be settled with the removal of a small bone in a toe on both feet.
It was hoped that a scaled back, ‘off-feet’ training program would allow Scharenberg to begin running in March and playing in April. This schedule is now likely to be put back by a further 4-6 weeks.
“It doesn’t drastically change the scenario for Matthew, who only turned 18 a few weeks before the draft,” Collingwood Director of Football, Rodney Eade, said.
“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.
“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.”
