Bendigo Advertiser | 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.
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.