AFL Outer East 2021: Matt Scharenberg signs at Olinda-Ferny Creek

A defender who spent seven years in the AFL system has landed in the AFL Outer East competition.

Matt Scharenberg grabs a mark for the Magpies last year. Picture: Michael Klein

Former Collingwood defender Matt Scharenberg will call Olinda-Ferny Creek home this season in a major boost for the AFL Outer East Premier outfit.

The Bloods have secured three key recruits since the 2020 campaign was canned amid the coronavirus crisis as they push to field a younger team after finishing seventh with five wins two years ago.

Midfielder/defender Tom Falzon and versatile tall Alex Mackinnon also arrived from Eastern league side North Ringwood in November.

Scharenberg, who is capable of playing at both ends of the ground, has put pen to paper after seven seasons and 41 senior appearances at Collingwood.

The trio of recruits are all aged 25 years or younger.

The club is also set to welcome back 2013 best and fairest Dan Stevens, who hasn’t played since 2018 because of a serious leg injury.

Champion big man James Charge has crossed to Mooroolbark.

“We’ve tried to make a bit of a shift from an older list to a younger list, and he (Scharenberg) complements that, as well as a couple of other recruits we’ve got from North Ringwood,” Olinda-Ferny Creek sports management group chairman Grant Faull said.

“We really needed to deepen our list.

“The last time we played in 2019, our reserves numbers were terrible.

“We’ve worked pretty hard over the break to touch base with as many people as we can, get commitment out of them and go forward with a deeper list.”

Faull said Scharenberg, who was selected at pick No.6 in the 2013 National Draft, was keen to keep a low profile at local level after an AFL career hampered by setbacks.

He underwent three knee reconstructions during his time at the Magpies, the last coming in 2018.

But Scharenberg trained with the Bloods on Monday and is in good nick.

“He’s been keeping fit over the summer. Guys who play at that level for so long, I don’t think their fitness drops off that much,” Faull said.

“It’s fantastic for the club, really exciting for the playing group … and for the kids.

“He said he wanted to come and enjoy his footy.

“It’s exactly what the club needs, some real enthusiasm and spark I suppose, and he’s definitely going to bring it.

“He’s such a great fella, a really nice guy, down to earth, quiet. His integrity is fantastic.”