Triple Storm

Joel Peterson | Bendigo Weekly | 30-Aug-2012

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HIGH HOPES: The Storm will be in the finals. Photo: ANDREW PERRYMAN. More photos at www.bendigophotos.com
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All three grades make the footy finals, netballers in there, too 

By JOEL PETERSON

Saturday will be a historic day for the Strathfieldsaye Storm Football Netball Club.
When the under-18 side runs out on to the hallowed Queen Elizabeth Oval turf at 2pm, they will be the first Strathfieldsaye football side to participate in a finals series since the club entered the BFNL in 2009.
But it won’t just be the U18 team competing, in a further first for the Storm the reserves and seniors will also play off in elimination finals against Golden Square and South Bendigo, respectively.
The Storm has come a long way since they faced a tough decision when they formed, as to whether the club join the
Heathcote and District Football League or the stronger BFNL competition.
Storm president Ray Patterson said the fact all three football sides made finals, and the club has had a netball side in finals every year, shows the right decision was made.
“When we started we probably expected to be around the pace of making finals or very close to it, but I think our progression so far has surprised not only us, but everyone.”
After narrowly missing out on football finals in the three grades last year, Patterson said the club was hoping to have one side in the 2012 finals at the start of the year.
“We thought having one side in would be a good result, but as this season progressed we thought we were a realistic chance of having all three in and that it would be a fitting reward for the club,” he said.
“It indicates the decision we made to enter the BFNL four years ago was the right one, and also the fact that we’ve had fantastic support from the local community.”
The club has had continued success on the netball courts as well, with the Strathfieldsaye team in the newly-formed B-Reserve competition making the finals, meaning at least one netball team has made finals in all four years.
The B-Reserve netballers will take on Sandhurst in an elimination final at the QEO from 3pm Saturday, while the three football grades start at 2pm.
In the A-grade netball, Golden Square and Gisborne will do battle from 7.10pm on Saturday night, while Sandhurst and Kangaroo Flat will play on Sunday at the QEO courts.

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