MPFNL: Sorrento makes three late signings ahead of 2025 season
Sorrento has had a pre-season boost, signing a former VFL dasher who kicked goal of the year, a country ruckman and a midfielder from Ballarat.
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A summer boost for Sorrento, securing three late recruits ahead of the 2025 Mornington Peninsula season.
Former VFL speedster Malcolm Neiwand, country ruckman Matt Peric and North Ballarat player Ryan Polkinghorne have joined the Sharks under new coach James Hallahan.
Polkinghorne signed on Monday night and Neiwand committed on Saturday.
All three have trained with the Sharks and Hallahan expects them to have an impact in ‘25.
Neiwand played a bit of VFL footy at Sandringham and Port Melbourne in 2015-16, and also at St Kilda City in the Southern league.
For the past three seasons he’s played at Macorna in the Golden Rivers league — at times lighting up the league with his dash and dare.
There’s a video clip of him kicking a goal last year when he took the ball off a pack at half back, had seven bounces down the wing and drilled a goal. It won goal of the year.
“He’d be six foot one but a power runner,’’ Hallahan said.
“He was a pretty good track athlete as a youngster. He’s 28 now and is a really good fit for us.’’
Ruckman Matthew Peric played at Sorrento in 2021-22 and is returning after two seasons at Alexandra in the Outer East league.
He also played at Old Xaverians in the VAFA.
Hallahan said Peric would help cover the loss of ruckman Liam Buxton, who’s returned to Vermont in the Eastern league.
“He’s exactly what we need considering we are young,’’ Hallahan said.
“He’s a guy who’s willing to get his body smashed around to protect the other guys which is good.’’
Polkinghorne is a small midfielder-forward who has moved into the area and comes with good credentials.
“Once again, just luck of the draw, he contacted us and wanted to come and have a run around,’’ Hallahan said.
“Just a lucky walk in.’’
Sorrento’s other key “ins” for 2025 are ex-AFL Swan and Kangaroo Ryan Clarke and Chad Harris, who has returned to the Sharks full-time from Richmond in the VFL.
Hallahan said pre-season training had gone well, with players fit and determined.
Former Essendon player and assistant coach David Flood has joined Hallahan’s coaching team as a senior assistant coach.
“He (Flood) has been around footy for such a long time at different levels and he’s pleasantly surprised with how we are tracking,’’ Hallahan said.
“It’s good to get feedback from someone who doesn’t know the ins and outs of the footy club to come in and say, ‘yeah, we’re tracking along really well, we could almost be ready to play a practice match now’, but it’s only the start of Feb.
“It’s more so let’s pull the boys in a bit, put the reins on them for a week or two to make sure we don’t overwork them. It’s good, everything’s positive.’’
SORRENTO
IN: Ryan Clarke (Sydney Swans), Chad Harris (Richmond VFL), Malcolm Neiwand (Macorna), Matt Peric (Alexandra), Ryan Polkinghorne (North Ballarat)
OUT: Leigh Poholke (Moe), Myles Poholke (Moe), Aaron Paxton (Moe), Liam Buxton (Vermont), Lachlan Croad (Rye)
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