STRATHFIELDSAYE forward Sam Mildren took the best on ground honours against Castlemaine after being a late inclusion for his first game of the Bendigo Football League season on Saturday.
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Mildren, whose back issues will again be managed through the season, took the place of Matthew Ferguson (ankle) and kicked four goals in the Storm’s 10.15 (75) to 3.6 (24) win over the Magpies at Flight Centre Park.
“Sam put his hand up to play and he was super for us,” Storm coach Darryl Wilson said.
“With the conditions the way they were, blokes were dropping chest marks, but he was clean and taking the ball out in front.”
The Storm led by four points at quarter-time, before making their move in the tough conditions when they added four goals to one during the second term to lead by 24 points at half-time.
“It was one of those games we went into not sure what was going to happen given the conditions and the fact Castlemaine had obviously played well to beat Gisborne the week before,” Wilson said.
“To get away with the win, we’re happy.”
As well as Mildren, the Storm - who have now won 21 in a row - also had two of their key midfielders in Sam Heavyside and Shaun Everington play big games, while Wilson was also rapt with the performances of crumbing forward Matthew Duffy and Fergus Payne in defence.
Tom Bartholomew kicked two goals for the Storm - one from a spectacular mark in the goalsquare in the second term.
Castlemaine coach Shane Robertson said it was a positive sign for the club to see how disappointed his players were after the game with the 51-point defeat.
“I’m really liking what’s coming out of this group,” Robertson said.
“They are really disappointed with today and that’s a good sign.
“They know our second quarter wasn’t good enough and that’s where we lost it.
“We lost a bit of belief in the second quarter, but I thought we were very competitive with them for the rest of the game.
“At the end of the day, it’s all a learning process and we just keep pushing forward.”
The Magpies’ best player was ruckman Tom Godsell, with solid support coming from veteran James O’Brien, recruit Justin Dorward, defender Alex Farrow and Rhys Jenkins.
Klai Jermyn kicked two of the three goals for the Magpies, who are now 2-2 and still inside the top five after four rounds.
The Magpies are awaiting to determine the severity of a knee injury to Niko Cakitaki.
VOTES:
SAM MILDREN (Strathfieldsaye) 5
THOMAS GODSELL (Castlemaine) 4
SAM HEAVYSIDE (Strathfieldsaye) 3
SHAUN EVERINGTON (Strathfieldsaye) 2
JAMES O’BRIEN (Castlemaine) 1