Storm surges to seventh grand final

STRATHFIELDSAYE Storm has surged into its seventh Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football League senior footy grand final.

The Storm outplayed Gisborne in last Saturday’s second semi-final at Queen Elizabeth Oval to earn a week’s rest ahead of chasing its fifth premiership victory in 10 years.

Although the Bulldogs had beaten Strathfieldsaye in both home-and-away matches it was Storm which followed up an impressive qualifying final victory by scoring a two-goal win.

Among the team changes was Callum McCarthy’s return to Storm’s on-ball brigade after being sidelined the previous Saturday because of a head knock.

Number one ruckman Braidon Blake was back on-field for Gisborne.

The Darryl Wilson and Shannon Geary-coached Strathfieldsaye scored 4.3 in the opening term as Gisborne’s accuracy of three goals straight kept the deficit at nine points.

Storm led 35-30 at half-time and then charged to a 16-point lead by the final change.

Led by the play of Jack Neylon, Callum McCarty, ruck-rover Jake Moorhead, and the classy Kallen Geary on a wing it was Strathfieldsaye which triumphed 83-71 against a line-up beaten just twice in the run to the finals.

Storm’s attack was led by James Schischka on four goals and captain Lachlan Sharp with three.

Matt Merrett booted three goals for Gisborne as captain Pat McKenna and Matt Weber added two each.

Storm’s work at the stoppages and through the midfield was a highlight as Lachlan Gill and Daniel Clohesy won plenty of the footy.

Just as important was Strathfieldsaye’s intensity when Gisborne had possession.

The Rob Waters-coached Bulldogs were often forced into errors or wide on the big ground.

Key defender Jack Reaper was Gisborne’s best along with Ethan Minns and onballer Brad Bernacki.

Others to play well for the red, white and blue were Macklan Lord, ruckman Braidon Blake and Matt Weber.