Strathfieldsaye has strengthened its depth and goal kicking stocks in a strong off-season recruiting campaign.
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The Storm have signed Bridgewater premiership forward Brad Rohde, St Arnaud defender Torin Petrie and they have a group of players returning to the club, including star midfielder Sam Heavyside.
The Storm lacked marking targets inside forward 50 to support Tom Bartholomew in 2016 and their scoring average in home and away games dropped from 115.6 in 2015 to 95.3 this year.
Rohde played in all seven of Bridgewater’s history-making LVFNL premiership years, kicking 416 goals in 107 games.
Petrie has been one of the most reliable defenders in the North Central Football League in the past decade. He also played with Dimboola in 2015 and has played in the Northern Territory Football League.
Sam Heavyside returns to the club on a full-time basis after spending the past two seasons playing for Essendon’s VFL side.
The inside midfielder played 29 games with the Bombers, including both of their 2016 finals matches. He gives the Storm midfield some extra class and ball-winning ability.
Sam Heavyside’s older brother Jacob and Caillum Brady return to their home club to add depth to the Storm’s midfield group.
Jacob Heavyside has played the past two seasons with Maffra in the Gippsland league, while Brady is back at Strathfieldsaye after a three-year stint with Heathcote District Football Netball League club White Hills.
Classy forward Lachlan Sharp, key defender Ben Lester and livewire Vinnie Flood also return to action after recovering from knee reconstructions.
The signings and the return of injured players help offset the loss of co-coach Bryce Curnow, ruckman Michael Pilcher, injured midfielder Nick Smith and premiership player Jordan Wilson.
Strathfieldsaye’s first game of 2017 is against reigning premier Sandhurst at Flight Centre Park on April 15.