Matthew Scharenberg did not test at draft combine. Source: CAS Andrew Brownbill / News Limited
CLUBS are facing an agonising decision on whether to risk a top-10 draft pick on one of the country's brightest prospects as it emerges Matthew Scharenberg is battling injuries affecting both feet.
Throwing a major curve ball into the likely order for Thursday's draft, word filtered out last night about growing fears the ready-made South Australian faces running issues because of bone-stress reactions in his feet.
Treatment options could range from pre-Christmas rest to surgery, which could sideline him for months, depending on the medical advice of the club that picks him.
The Herald Sun can reveal the Demons requested the AFL commissioned Melbourne to run scans on Scharenberg in Melbourne on Wednesday, in the belief he could still be available at the club's pick No.9.
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While those scan results are now available for clubs who request them, it is believed recruiters became aware of the seriousness of the problem only late this week.
Recent drafts have been littered with players who have carried major injury concerns late in their junior career but still blossomed, including Essendon's Dyson Heppell (groin), Geelong's Joel Selwood (knee) and Chris Judd (shoulders).
Those close to Scharenberg, 18, remain confident he will be able to complete a significant chunk of pre-season and be ready for a Round 1 debut.
Champion Data ranked the Brendon Goddard-type the third-best player in the draft pool in yesterday's Herald Sun, given his damaging rebound game dominated the national championships.
Ben Williams tackles Glenelg's Matthew Scharenberg. Source: News Limited
But there are suspicions the dual All-Australian could now fall outside the top 10 in a scenario considered unthinkable all year.
Scharenberg was slated to fall to Collingwood as a bargain-priced No. 6 pick to help replace star backman Heath Shaw and veteran Nick Maxwell.
He did not complete physical testing at last month's draft combine and has not played at any level since August 3. He played four senior games for Glenelg in the SANFL this year.
The revelation, which was a hot talking point at recruiting meetings yesterday, shapes as one of the biggest dilemmas leading into Thursday night's AFL national draft on the Gold Coast.
Clubs faced a similar proposition last year when ACL victim Troy Menzel, considered a top-five talent, fell to the Blues at No. 11.
Menzel played seven games for Carlton this year.
But clubs are more wary of Scharenberg's fitness with the 190cm intercept king still unable to run after the injuries flared late in the season.
Scharenberg collected the second-most SuperCoach points of all defenders at this year's national under-18 carnival, ranked No. 1 for intercept possessions and ranked in the elite category for disposals by a defender. He averaged 22 possessions and six marks per game in four matches for South Australia.
If Scharenberg does fall outside the top 10 the domino effect could see Victorian midfielders Chris Salem, Marcus Bontempelli, Nathan Freeman or Ben Lennon take the South Australian's place as Collingwood's first and second selections at Nos 6 and 10.
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