Storm slowly building momentum; turn tables on Bloods

STRATHFIELDSAYE coach Luke Freeman believes his side is only starting to come into its own after a crucial come-from-behind win over top five rival South Bendigo.

The Storm laid the foundations for a much improved second half of the season with a gutsy six-point victory at Strathfieldsaye.

It capped a stirring fightback by the Storm, who trailed by 23 points at half-time, but were able to restrict the Bloods to just one second half goal, a late one from Steven Stroobants that reduced the margin to six points.

The win gave them some temporary breathing space in fifth spot, two wins clear of sixth-placed Castlemaine, which lost to reigning premier Sandhurst by 109 points.

A fierce contest continued the trend of cliffhangers between the Storm and Bloods.

Only one point separated the rivals in their round one clash at Harry Trott Oval in what Freeman viewed as the one that got away.

With a similar scenario developing on Saturday, he insisted the Storm were determined to avoid a repeat of their round one heartache.

“They got off to a really good start, South Bendigo, and got a bit of a jump on us in the first half,” he said.

“We were able to stay with them and were playing some good patches of football during that time, but they were hitting the scoreboard and we weren’t I guess.

“But we were able to adapt a few things after half-time and were really pleased with the second half.

“It became a bit of an arm-wrestle in that last quarter.

“Round one was definitely in our minds. It was a game we felt we should have won, but to their credit, they were in front at the end.

“We had been looking forward to this game since then I guess.

“Being another close one, it was good to be on the right end of it.”

It was a second consecutive nail-biting win for the Storm, who beat Castlemaine by two points before the King’s Birthday long weekend break.

 

The experience of Sam Heavyside and Ben Lester proved invaluable for the Storm, while Jake Moorhead was damaging in the midfield.

Freeman praised the input of youngsters Pat Blake, Jaidi Jackson-Leahy, Seamus Doherty, Riley Mulquiny and Jed Daniels in standing tall when the game needed to be one.

The Storm’s eight goals were shared among just four players in a low scoring affair, with Jackson-Leahy and Mulquiny among the four with two goals apiece.

Freeman can sense the momentum slowly building at Strathfieldsaye on the back of three straight wins.

“We have obviously had an interrupted start with players unavailable with injury and we’ve lost some close games, which probably hurt us a bit. But we are starting to win a few close ones,” he said.

“And we’re starting to get a few guys back now.

“We think our second half will be better than our first.

“Jed Brereton was back in the twos on Saturday and there will be a few more follow him back in the weeks ahead.”

Freeman said momentum would be a key for the Storm this weekend against ladder leaders Sandhurst.

“They are obviously one of the biggest challenges right now for everyone, but we’ll go in with some confidence,” he said.

“There’s still a long way to go in the season, anything can happen.

“But I’m certain we will be better in the second half of the season.”

The Dragons won the clubs’ earlier season encounter at Strathfieldsaye by 50 points, highlighted by a five-goal haul by Hugh Schmetzer.

An intriguing round nine of action includes a battle between second and fourth of ladder when Gisborne makes the trek to South Bendigo, while Golden Square will be chasing its second win of the season at home against Castlemaine.

Round 8 recap:

Strathfieldsaye 8.11 (59) defeated South Bendigo 8.5 (53); Gisborne 24.12 (156) defeated Kangaroo Flat 5.9 (39);

Eaglehawk 14.9 (93) defeated Golden Square 5.12 (42); Sandhurst 22.15 (147) v Castlemaine 5.8 (38).

Round 9:

South Bendigo v Gisborne;

Sandhurst v Strathfieldsaye;

Kangaroo Flat v Eaglehawk;

Golden Square v Castlemaine.