MPFNL: Sorrento signs ex-AFL player Tom Phillips before transfer deadline

A Mornington Peninsula league club in finals contention has beaten the player transfer deadline to snare a former AFL-Magpie and Hawk.

Tom Phillips of the Magpies celebrates a goal with teammates. (AAP Image/Mark Nolan)

Injuries and European trips have been the catalyst behind Sorrento’s mid-season signing coup.

The Sharks have secured former Collingwood and Hawthorn player Tom Phillips before the June 30 transfer deadline.

The 28-year-old will play the next four games for Sorrento, and will be available for finals should the Sharks make them.

It’s understood another ex-AFL player could join Sorrento, although the club said it was yet to be confirmed.

The Sharks are currently in fifth spot, chasing a finals berth in MPFNL Division 1.

Phillips played 115 AFL games between 2016-2022, including 89 with Collingwood as a hard-running wingman.

Tom Phillips, the Magpie.

Tom Phillips of the Hawks. Pics: Michael Klein

This season he’s been playing with Carlton’s VFL side, as well as a handful of games with Melton South and one at Wodonga Raiders.

“He’s best mates with Tom Cameron and Doug Scott,’’ Sorrento coach Leigh Poholke said.

“He will join us next week.’’

Division 1 has a bye next weekend. Sorrento hosts Langwarrin on July 13 and Phillips will play.

Poholke said Phillips would be the perfect replacement for ex-Essendon midfielder Dylan Clarke, who jetted off to Europe on Sunday for a three-week holiday.

Sorrento star Shannon Gladman is also in Europe for a mid-year break.

Both Clarke and Gladman will be back to continue Sorrento’s finals push.

Sorrento has been ravaged by injuries, with 12 regular senior players sidelined. Young Ben Brown broke his jaw at training last week.

Liam Buxton of Sorrento. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

Jack Beverley. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

Sorrento scored a critical three-point win over fellow finals aspirant Red Hill on Saturday, with Jared Risol kicking the winning goal with seconds to go.

His set shot from 40m sailed through to give the Sharks victory, 10.3 (63) to 8.12 (60).

“It looked like it was missing the whole way,” Poholke said.

“And then it pulled back and fell over the line by about a metre.

“It was probably season over (if it didn’t go through).”

Three young debutants fuelled Sorrento’s win — Will Froomes, Tadhg Feehely and River McConchie.

Feehely made a sensational start when he slotted the first goal of the game, with his first kick.

“Bang, he was in the right spot, right time,’’ Poholke said.

“He kicks a goal two minutes in with his mum and dad watching. It was really good.’’

Poholke added: “The kids were absolutely sensational, their energy…’’

In all, six under-19s played in the Sharks’ win. After the game the youngsters posed for a photo with their U19s coach and teammate Myles Poholke.

Ross Walker, 16, was among Sorrento’s best players, showing great composure. “He was one of our best six players yesterday hands down,’’ Poholke said.

“We were even looking at him in the last quarter, saying ‘let’s get him into the midfield and see if he could give us a spark’, when we were down by two goals at the 21 minute mark. He’s going to be a really good footballer.’’

Star ruckman Liam Buxton was best-on-ground, having over 100 hit outs in a dominant display.

Clarke stayed in the midfield all day, without coming off, and was phenomenal, as was Jack Beverley.

For Red Hill, Patrick MacDonald kicked three goals, while Tynan Bressan, Charlie Robinson-Cay, Danny Allsop and Kalen Bird were also in the best.