Last year: 2nd - 17-4

Arrivals: Harry Conway, Caleb Sheahan, Vinnie Flood.

Departures: Trent Donnan, Wade Donnan, Tom Dowd, Bryce Carroll.

Player points: 38

Last flag: 2017

First month:

R1: v Eaglehawk (h)

R2: v Sandhurst (a)

R3: v Golden Square (h)

R4: v Gisborne (a)

Past five years:

2018: 2nd - 17-4

2017: 1st - 18-4

2016: 4th - 14-6

2015: 1st - 20-0

2014: 1st - 19-1

Last season's MVP top 5:

Kallen Geary - 47

Bryce Curnow - 37

Shannon Geary - 33

Josh Formosa - 29

Trent Donnan - 28

Last season's top 5 goalkickers:

Lachlan Sharp - 74

Bryce Curnow - 56

Fergus Payne - 39

Hugh Robertson - 24

Troy Coates - 22

Q and A with coach Troy Coates

How much, if at all, have you used last year's grand final loss as inspiration in the pre-season?

"We looked back at the grand final to look at the areas we felt we needed to improve in over summer.

"Last year the boys spent the year learning my game style and how we want to play. The beuaty of keeping 90 per cent of our list is that this year the group knows the structures and we've been able to focus on fitness and get plenty of touches of the footy.

"We've made a couple of tweaks to the way we want to play, but overall it will be pretty similar."

The talk amongst the playing group is that this is the fittest the squad has been for many years.

"It's very much a running game now and I thought in both finals against Eaglehawk last year they outran us on the QEO. In hindsight we went into those games top heavy across the ground.

"This year we'll focus heavily on having speed and fitness across the ground.

"The boys are a proud bunch and they don't like losing. The hurt of last year has driven them this pre-season, so in terms of a coaching point of view I haven't had to much motivating.

"The boys have driven this themselves and they've done extra running sessions. From this time last year we are much fitter."

With the inclusion of Harry Conway and Caleb Sheahan it appears you'll have more flexibility this year.

Conway could go through the ruck at times and in our practice matches he's played on the wing, in the middle and down back.

The great thing about having Conway and Caleb back is that they've come from the Richmond VFL squad and they've come back with high training standards and they've set that amongst the group.

With Trent and Wade Donnan leaving the club, we see Caleb filling a midfield role for us. He has a bigger body and his contested ball work and tackle pressure is very good. 

Summary

Fitter, stronger, hungrier.

The Storm had few deficiencies in 2018, but they were forced to settle for second after running into a slick Eaglehawk in September.

Injuries to some key players certainly didn't help the Storm's cause last year, but they recognised they needed to increase their running capacity in 2019.

A heavy pre-season focus on fitness combined with the introduction of younger legs has the Storm confident they'll be a stronger side in 2019 if they get an even run with injuries.

While the return of premiership star Harry Conway is a massive bonus, the Storm's improvement will come from within.

Key forward Hugh Robertson only showed flashes of his best form last year and has had a strong pre-season.

Robertson alongside star duo Lachlan Sharp and Bryce Curnow inside forward 50 is potentially the most potent trio in the competition.

If the Storm want to they could roll Bailey Henderson and/or Conway forward as well to really stretch the opposition defence.

Midfield duo Jake Moorhead and Josh Formosa had great seasons last year, but they're still only in their early 20s and have plenty of improvement in front of them.

Ruckman Harry Crone took a big step forward last year and the Storm's defence remains well stocked.

It's mighty hard to see the Storm missing the double-chance. If they get to September in good physical condition they'll be mighty hard to beat.

Related: Play the Addy Footy Challenge

Related: Special offer for footy and netball fans

Related: Catch up on the other BFNL season previews

Coach: Ash Barbetti (first year)

Last year: Eighth

Arrivals: Claire Gibbs, Claudia Powell, Zoe Kennedy, Milly Op't Hoog, Petah Winsall, Hayley Smith, Matilda Shannon, Meg Layton, Jess Moloney.

Departures: Olivia Mason, Jackie Geary, Alana Johnstone, Justine Fitzgibbon, Georgia Martin, Claudia Douglas, Kimmy Dowd.

Coaching panel: Ash Barbetti (A-grade); Zoe Kennedy (A-reserve); B-grade: Jodie Bouwmeester; B-reserve: Elyse Morgan; 17-and-under: Fiona Schubert; Zenda McConnell (development team).

Last five years: Eighth (2018); sixth (2017); sixth (2016); second (2015); sixth (2014).

Q and A with coach Ash Barbetti

How has the pre-season and recruiting been for you?

"It has been great to get back into netball after the break over Christmas. We are lucky enough to have some players returning to the club as well as a few new faces. Our new players have values similar to our club, so they have settled into our player group very well.

"Regardless of past, present or new - coach, committee or player - everyone has something to offer and everyone contributes to the culture we are proud of at Storm."

Alice Layton was a teenager, who had an impact in her first season in A-grade last season? I imagine she is only going to be better this time around?

"Alice is a determined, disciplined, enthusiastic player who has plenty of grit about her. Alice will embrace the opportunity to continue to develop her game as the gutsy wing defence we have come to know and love to watch. This year it will be great to see Alice move down the court and develop her game in other mid-court positions."

What excited you about taking on the A-grade role as coach?

"For me it was an opportunity to demonstrate just how much I trust what the volunteers and members have established and continue to develop and nurture at the club.

"I understand the current reality of the A-grade team and that our on-court success last year was not what we aimed to achieve, however, I am extremely proud of how those involved last year were invested, attacked the season and most of all enjoyed playing the game we love, at the club we love.

"I am positive that the culture we have at Strath, alongside the structures and values we work and play by, will translate to on-court success in our future."

SUMMARY

It was a lean 2018 in terms of wins for Strathfieldsaye, which achieved just the one against Golden Square late in the season.

But there is confidence from within the Storm can make significant inroads this season with a stronger and more experienced playing list and a new coach at the helm.

Ash Barbetti becomes the Storm's fifth coach in as many seasons, following on from Mali Roberts (2015), Melissa Ryan (2016), Aleisha Langdon (2017) and 2018 co-coaches Kathryn Gilmore and Amy Davies.

She takes charge of a new-look squad, underpinned by the return of some key former players and a few fresh faces.

The Storm have welcomed back goal shooter Claire Gibbs after a season off and goal keeper Claudia Powell, who has rejoined the Storm after guiding Bridgewater to a Loddon Valley league premiership as a non-playing coach.

Powell and Elyse Morgan are the lone survivors of the Storm's 2015 grand final line-up, which went within four goals of upsetting Golden Square. It was also the last time Strathfieldsaye played finals.

The Storm have lured talented goaler and midcourter Zoe Kennedy from Pyramid Hill and she will add depth and experience after playing in two premierships with the Bulldogs in 2015 and 2017 and coaching the club last season.

Kennedy was best on court in the Bulldogs 2017 flag and a popular pick as the Bulldogs' best in the 2015 triumph.

Expect sharp improvement from the Storm in 2018.

Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.