Bendigo Advertiser | REIGNING premier Strathfieldsaye dished out the biggest belting of the Bendigo Football League season so far with a 136-point hiding of Maryborough on Saturday.
The Storm scored 48 times to just seven in the 24.24 (168) to 5.2 (32) victory at Flight Centre Park in what was a one-sided clash reflective of the opposite ends of the ladder in which the two sides sit.
Strathfieldsaye was quick to stamp its authority on the contest, racing to a 45-point lead at quarter-time, 8.5 to 1.2.
And there was no let-up on the battling Magpies for the remainder of the game as the Storm added a further five goals to one in the second quarter, seven goals to one in the third and four goals to two in the last.
Despite the lop-sided margin on the scoreboard, Storm coach Darryl Wilson said it was still far from a complete performance from his side.
“I don’t think it was as convincing as the scoreboard may show,” Wilson said.
“We still turned the ball over a bit, which we need to keep working on, but we were pleased to be able to bring in two new guys in Nathan Jennings and Jayden Kealy, who played their first games.”
While the Storm is renowned for their attacking firepower, it was another strong performance defensively by the undefeated Strathfieldsaye, which has conceded just five, three and six goals its past three games.
Stepping up in the absence of Sam Mildren, Stephen Milne and Matthew Ferguson, Tom Bartholomew worked hard inside 50 all game and kicked four goals for the Storm to be their best player. Had he taken all his opportunities, Bartholomew would have kicked 11.
Usual defender Jayden Donaldson relished a move forward to also kick four goals and be among the better players as well, along with Matt Smith, Harry Crone, Jake Hall and Tom Dowd.
Maryborough - which had the suspended Jamie Bond coach from behind the fence - is the only winless team this season, with three of the Magpies’ five losses now by 100-plus points.
Matthew Bond kicked three of the Magpies’ five goals.
The Magpies named James Macer, impressive youngster Coby Perry, Nathan Bond and ruckman Kade Bench their best.
