STRATHFIELDSAYE rounded out its practice match campaign with a win over the Ballarat Swans on Saturday, but coach Darryl Wilson expects the Storm to be "scratchy" early in their Bendigo Football League premiership defence.
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"I think we're behind where we probably should be in terms of our fitness," Wilson said on Saturday.
"After winning the flag you come back a little later... some of it has been our doing and some of it is some of the boys not quite ready.
"But I'm a big believer that you have to be ready at the end of the year, not at the start.
"You don't win flags in April and we'll manage that.
"We've had a fair changeover of players and we're probably not ready to gel together because the new group that has come in hasn't all played together yet.
"We'll be a bit scratchy early."
The Storm had a host of stars sidelined in Saturday's win over the Swans.
Sam Mildren, Stephen Milne, Steven Baker, Tom Bartholomew, Matthew Ferguson, Shannon Geary, Kallen Geary and Michael Pilcher were among those missing Saturday's match.
However, all will be available to return for this Friday's season-opening grand final rematch against Sandhurst at the Queen Elizabeth Oval.
"It was a good chance for us to have a look at a few guys pushing for spots and what we've got coming through," said Wilson, who is embarking on his fifth season at the helm of the Storm.
Meanwhile, Storm forward Stephen Milne is in for a busy Easter weekend.
After playing for the Storm against the Dragons on Good Friday, Milne will line up for Tyabb in the Nepean league the following day.