STRATHFIELDSAYE is not in the finals just to make up the numbers, according to coach Darryl Wilson.
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The Storm have qualified for their first finals series after just four years in the BFNL, but the club won’t be satisfied with just participating in the September action.
“The boys are keen to play a finals game, but we’re not here to just play one final,’’ Wilson said.
“We want to win this week and have a crack at the first semi-final.”
A five-goal win for the Storm over South three weeks ago flattered the Bloods, but Wilson isn’t reading much into that match.
“You don’t write off a side like South Bendigo,’’ he said.
“South’s midfielders are very strong and their run from half-back is very important to them.
“Brady Childs, Danield Anderson and Aaron Connaughton are three very good midfielders and Hams has to be watched.
“(Michael) Leech up forward can kick a bag of goals. There’s no doubt that South will be fired up to play well. We’re expecting a fierce contest.”
Strathfieldsaye’s young midfield group has pleased Wilson in recent weeks.
Matt Ladson, Matt and Kellan Smith and Jacob Heavyside will play key roles tonight alongside the more experienced trio of Shannon Geary, Jake Hall and Nick Smith.
“We’ve got plenty of run and carry and we’re going in with a fit side,’’ Wilson said.
“We’ve got an extra midfield rotation this week with Vinnie Flodd coming into the side.
“We’re confident we’ve got enough midfield power there to win enough of the footy.
“Hopefully, our forward line can kick a winning score.”
At the other end of the ground Strath has one of the best backlines in the competition.
The Storm didn’t concede more than 11 goals per game in the first six rounds of the season, but fell apart when injuries hit through the middle of the year.
“We’re glad we’ve got the backline back together,’’ Wilson said.
“Having our backline back together helps us at the other end of the ground as well.
“Ash Trollop is super important to us and we missed a lot of run out of the back without Tom Dowd and Jono Gawthrop.”