Point Cook Centrals records a massive win over local rivals

Point Cook Centrals might have faced an injury crisis this season but coach Dean Chambers is seeing the positives. He reveals why he’s happy and the type of player he needs next year.

Point Cook Centrals recorded a big win over Point Cook.

Point Cook Centrals has a clearer picture of what it needs to add to its playing list for next season.

The Sharks have endured a rollercoaster season this year sitting second from bottom with a 4-10 record after a horror run with injury.

It hasn’t allowed the club to progress quite as well as it would have like under coach Dean Chambers.

On Saturday, the Sharks fielded one of their strongest teams of the year against local rivals Point Cook, another side decimated by injury, and ran out 118-point winners.

But for all the tough times Chambers and his side have endured there has been a silver lining.

“We’ve managed to get some games into our younger kids,” Chambers said.

“We’ve had players like Jack Kenny and Josh Gerolemou who have really blossomed with the opportunity to play consistent senior footy. Jack has played down back all year, he’s played on the best players, he’s really grown as a player.

“You never want to have injuries, it can impact where you want to go, but it’s helping to set the club up for the future. The Henderson boys, Liam and Luke, are coaching our under-18s and they’re going to play finals in Division 2.

“The retention of the playing group has been really strong. We’ve lost two games with two kicks after the siren, it could have been very different on another day.

“Those kids are so important to us in the long-term. It’s been a difficult year but we’re looking at all of the positives.”

Point Cook Centrals have endured a tough season. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

Gun midfielder Mitch Palma, who has had his own injury issues this season, played up forward on the weekend and kicked 10 majors.

He failed to train all week with Chambers electing him to put him in “cotton wool”.

Daniel Rosenzweig also managed to snag five.

“We’ve got a lot of sore boys at the moment,” Chambers said.

“We went pretty hard with our recruiting and unfortunately injuries happened to some of those guys.

“Our backline has been terrific all year. We manage to get enough of the footy forward, sometimes we’re just not putting it on the scoreboard.

“A couple of key forwards who can take a strong grab would be great additions, that’s nothing against the guys we’ve got down there, those big strong forwards aren’t easy to come by.”

Among the better players for the Sharks on the weekend included midfielder Haidyn Shade who recorded over 40 touches.

Kwar Ater impressed in the ruck while Daniel Strnak also found plenty of the footy.

Jock Coates was best for Point Cook.

The challenge now for the Sharks is to avoid the wooden spoon, currently sitting one game and percentage clear of the Dogs with two games to play.