MPNFL 2018: Chris Dawes in race against time to prove fitness as Sorrento plots another flag tilt
KEY forward Chris Dawes is battling a calf injury on the eve of Mornington Peninsula Nepean League finals.
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KEY forward Chris Dawes is battling a calf injury on the eve of Mornington Peninsula Nepean League finals.
The Sorrento star did not feature in his side’s 15.15 (105) to 6.13 (49) victory over Frankston Bombers on Saturday, but the club is hopeful his injury is “only a one or two-week thing”.
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“In his last year at Melbourne he had it go on him three or four times … but it’s not too bad, which is a positive,” Sorrento coach Luke Tapscott said.
“They said only one or two.”
That diagnosis would have Dawes in the frame to feature against Edithvale-Aspendale in the last round of the home-and-away season on Saturday as Sorrento looks to secure top spot.
Dawes last featured on July 28 against Pines and has enjoyed a consistent second season with Sorrento, kicking at least one goal in every game.
The ex-Collingwood and Melbourne spearhead has 30 majors from 11 games this year after booting 48 from 10 matches during Sorrento’s premiership campaign last year.
The Sorrento team is flush with ex-AFL talent, with former Hawthorn and Gold Coast midfielder Mitch Hallahan supplying plenty of opportunities for Dawes and Leigh Poholke, who has booted 43 majors to be Sorrento’s leading goalkicker in 2018.
Tapscott, another ex-Demon, has also been a key on-field figure, while former Saints defender Troy Schwarze has been battling a knee injury.
Sorrento is a game clear on top of the ladder heading into Round 19 and will seal top spot if it accounts for Edithvale-Aspendale.
A loss in the final round of the home-and-away season will open the door for Mt Eliza, which defeated Edi-Asp by 22 points on Saturday, to claim the minor premiership.
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