MPNFL: Sorrento appoints Leigh Poholke as senior coach

The Sharks have locked in a club favourite as their new coach after an approach to Gary Ayres.

Leigh Poholke will coach Sorrento in 2022. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Leigh Poholke couldn’t hide his joy after being appointed senior coach of Sorrento on Friday.

“I’m pumped,” he said.

“I would do anything for this club.”

The 29-year-old, one of Sorrento’s finest-ever players, is already plotting the Sharks’ return to glory as he gets set to put his stamp on the job.

“There will be lots of changes at Sorrento next season and they will start to filter through over the next six weeks, from coaching to assistant coaches, to recruits, all the way through,’’ he said.

“There will be a raft of changes.’’

Leigh Poholke celebrates after a goal in the 2017 Nepean league grand final. Picture: Chris Eastman

Poholke said he wants to add experience in “specific areas” the Sharks were lacking in 2021.

“Anyone who saw us play this year will understand what that means,” he said.

“We will fix a couple areas on field where we are lacking experience and then we are going to the youth policy, 22 to 26 year olds, we’re going to build our list around that.

“We’ve got 14 kids coming up from the under 19s to the senior teams, we’ve shortlisted eight or nine of those guys who should be playing senior footy.

“We’re going to be a pretty exciting team next year.

“This team is going to play a lot different footy to what was dished up this season.”

Sorrento vice president Anthony Ring said the Sharks interviewed four candidates for the coaching job.

He said an informal approach was made to the great Gary Ayres.

“A lot of people in the footy club are friends with Gary and may have had a chat over coffee,’’ he said.

“But there wasn’t anything formal.

“Leigh’s beaten some pretty impressive guys. We went in with an open mind…there were a few pretty impressive names that we interviewed.

“It’s in good hands with Leigh.

Leigh Poholke.

“He’s so good with the juniors and developing, he knows every player inside out and he’s as passionate as anyone about the footy club.

“That sort of stuff is hard to get from the outside if you know what I mean.”

Poholke is one of Sorrento’s greatest goal kickers and he intends to continue playing.

“It was a non negotiable for me,” he said.

“I’m not ready to hang up the boots so if they wanted me it was as a playing coach, and if they didn’t, I would just continue as a player.

“I’m not ready to hang up the boots yet. I’ve got my eyes on 200 senior games at Sorrento which is automatic life membership. I hope I’ve got another five years of good footy left in me.”

Poholke says he has a passion for coaching.

“I’ve coached three junior sides, two under 19 sides and interim coached Karingal and Sorrento,” he said.

“I get a huge kick out of playing senior footy with kids I’ve coached. And every under 23 year old at Sorrento I’ve coached.

“That’s pretty cool. To bring up and develop senior footballers is fantastic and now I’m looking forward to coaching senior footballers and striving for success.”

Poholke’s younger brother, Myles, the former Adelaide Crow, played with Sorrento this year.

Poholke said “80 to 90 per cent” of the Sharks’ list was committed for next year, including the Hallahan brothers, Nick Corp and Daniel Grant.