The 17.13 (115) to 3.5 (23) win resulted in the Storm cutting Sandhurst's percentage lead from more than 41 per cent to a whisker under 23 per cent.

The Magpies put the Storm under plenty of pressure in the first half, but a 10-goal to one second half ensure the home side recorded a healthy percentage-boosting win.

"The conditions, particularly at the Bendigo end, weren't great and that didn't help the standard of the game,'' Storm coach Darryl Wilson said.

"To Castlemaine's credit they had a real crack at us and in the first half they did a great job of closing us down.

"After half-time we used the ball much better and our forward line functioned better."

Sam Mildren had Stephen Milne bagged 11 goals between them for the Storm.

Milne kicked 5.7 to take his season tally to 56 goals.

"Milney's ability by foot to hit up people was great to watch,'' Wilson said.

"He was in the top five for us in kicks... his passing to Mildren was outstanding."

Nick Smith dominated across half-back for the Storm, while Jayden Donaldson, Matt Smith and Leigh Prior all played well.

Despite not being named in Castlemaine's best players, Wilson labelled the Magpies' Kamen Ogilvie as a "star".

"I was really impressed with him, he won plenty of the ball... he's a star,'' Wilson said.

Skipper Zac Hansford, Rhys Jenkins, James O'Brien and Alex Farrow were named the Magpies' best.

There was a downside to the Storm's victory, with key forward Tom Bartholomew hurting his knee again.

Bartholomew has only played four games for the season.

"He's not sure what he's done,'' Wilson said of Bartholomew.

"It's not serious, but we'll have it checked out."