#12 Matt Scharenberg

[Tannin]

^ Fair go there Simon. He is from South Australia and he's only been here learning the finer points for a couple of years. "Pen" might be a bit much just yet. For all that he's a bright lad and a quick learner, he's probably still on the "crayon" stage. Give it time.

[Deja Vu]

I still hope he signs with us. For those of you saying we have plenty of his type, I say look again. For those saying he's only a half back flanker, see how important those positions are for the teams playing in the finals. You need someone who can guard his player, read the play, take an intercept mark, and be damaging by foot moving forward. In fact, you need at least 2 of those players.

I won't begrudge him signing with Adelaide for a bigger deal and the go home factor (it's the same that will net us Treloar) but I will be interested to follow this kids' progress because I think he will be an exceptional player.

[simon tonna]

its been a long day.
just putting me two bobs in.

[John Wren]

I am not sure why but I keep being drawn back to this thread like a moth to the light. Perhaps it is to see how many pages we can actually compile in this thread before a decision is made.

i'd be worried if you read it in order to find anything factual about schazza and his situation.

[skaman]

....

[Bob Sugar]

Let me preface my remarks by declaring I know nothing about the negotiations with his management, nor do I know anything about this kid, or his intentions. But there are some facts which we all know and should be undisputed by all.

Firstly, our club has been trying since the middle of last year.....that's right, since the middle of the 2014 season... to secure his signature.

Secondly, since that time we have heard numerous explanations from him as to why he wouldn't sign a contract extension - "I want to get over my injuries first"..."I want to get some senior games under my belt first"....and then "I'll wait to the end of the season and it will take care of itself".

Thirdly, he has never PUBLICLY, declared he wanted to remain a Collingwood player.

Fourthly, Derek Hine acknowledged back in May that the Crows were circling, and expected to try to entice Scharenberg back to Adelaide.

So in light of those facts, here is my conjecture.

I think there is a strong likelihood that negotiations with us will soon break down and his manager will declare he's had an offer "too good to refuse" from Adelaide.

Before going any further, let's be clear, I have complete faith that our football department are professional enough to know what's the likely outcome and they will negotiate the best outcome for Collingwood. In that case, we could all just remain silent, and let it all take place without comment. But what's the point of Nicks? This is a place for us supporters to air our opinions, right or wrong. Ultimately, nothing said on this site is going to influence any outcome. My comments are meant purely as an expression of my feelings on the matter.

So, from a non-informed supporters perspective, purely as an exercise of amusement on Nicks, what do I think our club should do?

I guess that mainly depends on how much we rate Scharenberg as a player. Personally, I have not been all that impressed by him as a player, despite acknowledging his slow recovery from serious injury. However, given that, in his own words, he sees himself as a half back flanker, I don't think he is the sort of player we are desperately in need of. If he was a project key forward I might have a different attitude. If we rate him as a genuine future star, then we should keep negotiating to try to persuade him to remain a Magpie. In my mind, however, I haven't seen the commitment from him on the field that I've seen from De Goey, Moore, Maynard, Marsh or Ramsay.

So if I was Derek Hine (and our club is no doubt very lucky that i am not, I hear you say), given the delayed bargaining tactics of Scharenberg's manager, I would make a final offer and give him 48 hrs to accept or reject. After then I would then make it known that he is on the trade table and see what we could get for him. We should take the initiative. At the end of the day, the worst case is that we lose a player who doesn't want to play for us, and we get nothing for him and he has to risk his chances in the draft. The more likely outcome is that we reach an agreement with the Crows (or Port) and this helps us in our negotiations for Treloar, Aish or someone else.

In this increasingly professional, dispassionate world of football business, I don't hold any grudge at all toward this kid. He, and his manager are entitled to use whatever tactics they can to secure the best outcome for him. As a Collingwood supporter, however, I can't help but be somewhat miffed by the seeming lack of gratitude and respect shown to our club, given the support we have shown him, nursing him for 18 months through injury. But at the end of the day, he's entitled to make his call when and how he sees fit. Equally, our club is entitled to do the same. For what it's worth, I think it's time we pulled the trigger on this long drawn out exercise and took control.

I'd just say this to him- good luck in the draft if you refuse to accept our offer.

[AN_Inkling]

I still hope he signs with us. For those of you saying we have plenty of his type, I say look again. For those saying he's only a half back flanker, see how important those positions are for the teams playing in the finals. You need someone who can guard his player, read the play, take an intercept mark, and be damaging by foot moving forward. In fact, you need at least 2 of those players.

I won't begrudge him signing with Adelaide for a bigger deal and the go home factor (it's the same that will net us Treloar) but I will be interested to follow this kids' progress because I think he will be an exceptional player.

Would be great if he stays. A tall, skilled multi-position player who has already shown a bit despite almost two years out of the game. I don't think we have a comparable player on our list, maybe Oxley comes closest but I think there's a decent gap there.

[bally12]

I like this kid, he's got something. I hope he stays.

[Big T]

If he leaves, it's a total failure from Hine and co. If Freeman doesn't make it, it's a bloody disaster.

[watt price tully]

If he leaves, it's a total failure from Hine and co. If Freeman doesn't make it, it's a bloody disaster.

Hey, welcome back Big T.

I disagree about losing the 'berg as it depends on what we get back in return should he leave. I can see your point though in terms of having 2 picks in the top 10 with respect to Freeman.

[Bob Sugar]

If he leaves, it's a total failure from Hine and co. If Freeman doesn't make it, it's a bloody disaster.

Hey, welcome back Big T.

I disagree about losing the 'berg as it depends on what we get back in return should he leave. I can see your point though in terms of having 2 picks in the top 10 with respect to Freeman.

The Whorks wasted pick 7 not to long ago, didn't seem to slow them up much, and as you said we'll get a decent pick for Shazza, I'm hoping around 11-12, that will give us plenty of currency to land treloar and Aish (if we want him)

[AN_Inkling]

If he leaves, it's a total failure from Hine and co. If Freeman doesn't make it, it's a bloody disaster.

The Hawks had only a 50% success rate on their top 10 picks during their rebuild (4/8 I think).

Even if Scharenberg does leave we do get something in return, it's not a failed pick.

[burnsy17]

There is no doubt hes gone. Lets just hope we can nail a decent pick for him... Dont be surprised if we accept a pick in the 15-25 range. No one will be stupid enough to part with a top 10 pick for someone who's coming off a knee and played 3 average games!

Take a decent pick (15-26) and flip it to the Lions with Seedsman for Aish and a 3rd round pick.

[Bob Sugar]

There is no doubt hes gone. Lets just hope we can nail a decent pick for him... Dont be surprised if we accept a pick in the 15-25 range. No one will be stupid enough to part with a top 10 pick for someone who's coming off a knee and played 3 average games!

Take a decent pick (15-26) and flip it to the Lions with Seedsman for Aish and a 3rd round pick.

We'll get the Crows first rounder.

[burnsy17]

That will be pick 12 or 13, depending on where they finish... We've done well if thats the case.