STRATHFIELDSAYE Storm has appointed Darryl Wilson as its senior coach for the 2011 Bendigo Football Netball League season.The three-time premiership coach with Colbinabbin in the HDFL replaces the club’s inaugural coach Clint Whitsed.Wilson previously coached the Bendigo Bombers reserves side and Kangaroo Flat before taking this season off.“I wanted to get back into coaching and I was really impressed in what Strathfieldsaye had to offer as far as its young list is concerned,’’ Wilson said.“The junior structure is great and the oldest player on the senior list is probably only 25.“The club’s only been around for a couple of years, but they’re on the right track. The club had six wins this year plus three narrow losses, so they’re not that far away from a finals berth.“We need to sure up the back half and we’re confident that in the next few weeks we’ll have a couple of players that will help us do that.”Wilson has already added two significant signings to the Storm’s midfield group, with Shannon Geary and Tom Dowd appointed playing assistant coaches.Geary joins the Storm after winning the Kangaroo Flat best and fairest award this season.“Darryl is the coach who has coached me the most and I enjoy playing under his game plan,’’ Geary said.“One day I’d like to be a senior coach and I see this as a great opportunity to learn from someone like Darryl.”Dowd arrives in Bendigo with big wraps having played in the Gippsland Power’s 2005 TAC Cup premiership side alongside Collingwood stars Dale Thomas and Scott Pendlebury.He was also a teammate of Joel Selwood while playing for Victoria Country at the 2005 national under-18 championships.Dowd joins the Storm from Leongatha.“I really like the idea of playing with a club that’s new and you can write your own history,’’ Dowd said.“I wanted to take a step forward with my footy and become an assistant coach and it was going to be hard to do that with Leongatha.“My girlfriend is from the Bendigo area and Strathfieldsaye had a great feel about it.“I can’t wait to get started.”Geary will give the Storm midfield some added grunt, while Dowd is an outside midfielder who will enjoy the open spaces of the club’s home ground.