MPNFL: Sorrento beats Rosebud to climb to third spot in Division 1

Injuries have decimated the Sharks — even their runner did a hammy on Saturday — but the sparkling form of a crop of youngsters is helping to ease the pain.

Sorrento coach Leigh Poholke has suffered a broken arm again. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Hospital visits are becoming way too common for Sorrento footballers this season.

The latest is club coach and leading goal kicker Leigh Poholke, who underwent surgery on Monday to repair his broken arm.

And Sharks captain James Hallahan will have a knee reconstruction next week.

Poholke re-broke the same arm he fractured last season in an innocuous incident against Red Hill on June 4.

“One of the Red Hill boys came over to try and elbow me in the guts and I put my arm up to protect myself and he snapped it where I snapped it last year,’’ Poholke said.

“It broke underneath one of the plates. So they took that plate off and put a new plate in.’’

Sorrento’s Marcus Gardner takes a kick. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Sorrento has again been hit hard by injuries, with Mitch Hallahan, Daniel Hughes, Rourke Fischer, Jon Croad and Luke Brigden also sidelined.

The Sharks beat Rosebud by 54 points on Saturday to climb to third spot.

The injury curse continued when team runner Luke Bridgen did his hammy before half-time.

Former St Kilda player and Sorrento legend Troy Schwarze was there watching and stepped in to do the running duties in the second half.

Poholke said Sorrento “outlasted…and eventually broke’’ a young Rosebud side.

“We were only five goals up and they were kicking with a four goal breeze in the last quarter but I think their kids ran out of legs and the bigger bodies eventually broke them open in that last little bit.

“To get to 6-4 and get the week off now is pretty important for us.

“We’ve had 10 out of our side yesterday and probably seven of them are arguably in our best 11 players.

“So we’re just hanging on at the moment.’’

Shannon Gladman.

Sorrento teenager Charlie Stokes was named best afield in the 14.9 (93) to 5.4 (39) win after an impressive display off half back.

“He is putting together a really good year,’’ Poholke said.

“He had 27 touches last week and had 33 yesterday.

“We had five kids under 19 play yesterday, which I don’t think Sorrento has had as long as I’ve been there.’’

Poholke said Stokes’ composure was a highlight.

“He just doesn’t miss a kick, he had 33 possessions, with 28 kicks and he would’ve missed one or two kicks the whole day and he’s 18, he’s composed…he’s coming along at a rapid rate,’’ he said.

Midfield gun Shannon Gladman also starred for Sorrento, gathering 25 touches and kicking four goals.

“He’d be leading our best and fairest by the length of the straight,’’ Poholke said.

“His last four weeks have been unbelievable…he’s just dominating games for us.’’

Sorrento’s Nick Corp.

Curtis Bywater kicked five goals for Sorrento, while former VAFA star Nick Wood impressed in his second game back from knee injury.

“We’re pretty excited to see what he can do for us over the next month,’’ Poholke said of Wood.

“His first two games after six weeks off have be ridiculously good.’’

Rosebud coach Nick Jewell lamented several crucial errors and turnovers that allowed Sorrento to pounce.

“A couple of key moments right before the sirens at halftime and three quarter time were costly,’’ he said.

“That’s just where we’re at with young blokes, making a few little blues.

“I can’t question their effort though, geez they were fantastic for such a young group.

“I know Sorrento has a few out but we’re down in talent compared to them and the boys were terrific, they had a real crack.’’

Matthew Cumming, Chris Baker, Liam McKenna, Reid Nanscawen, Fletcher Hustwaite and Zac Maynard were named in Rosebud’s best players.

Poholke had kicked 28 goals this season before his Round 9 injury.

He said the nature of the injury was “annoying’’.

“You don’t mind if you break it playing footy but just an innocuous little thing like that behind play, to cost you three months of footy is pretty annoying, but that’s okay,’’ he said.

“It gives me a chance to develop my coaching.

“It is what it is, it probably happens a thousand times and I just got unlucky, the point of his elbow just hit flush the bottom of the plate. It probably happens 10,15 times a game.’’

Poholke faces 6-8 weeks out but could make it back to the field late in the season.

“Look, if we’re playing finals I’m a chance,’’ he said.