Storm crashes out of Big V finals after successful debut season

BELLARINE Storm women’s coach Brendon Matthews says his side’s inaugural season has been a success despite Saturday’s straight-sets finals exit to Hawthorn.

The fourth-placed Storm couldn’t take their playoff series into a third game after the Magic claimed a 73-59 win on Saturday night, backing up its 64-51 win the weekend prior.

Matthews said he had taken the time to reflect on what was a positive first season in the Big V competition.

“Obviously disappointed after the game but once I put it in perspective, first season in the competition and being the only team without an import and being the only team to make finals without an import and player unavailability towards the end of the season, I think we did a pretty good job really,” he said.

“We weren’t middle of the road, we made finals so we overachieved from what the club’s perspective was.

“It was just a shame to go down in straight sets like that, to basically play the second game like we played the first game. We just got blown out in that first quarter and it was just like a mirror image, the same thing happened again.

“In the first quarter, I think we only shot at 8 per cent and that was credit to Hawthorn, their pressure was fantastic and that’s why we shot the ball so poorly.

“I think we just ran out of cattle as well, ran out of legs.”

Injuries culled the Storm’s squad after they started their season 5-1, but Matthews said there was plenty of upside for next year, especially if the club can attract a recruit.

“If we had our full squad, the team that I started with at the start of the season … you’d think if we put an import in there, I think we could go all the way,” he said.

“You’d have to look at either a centre or a pretty mobile forward, someone over 6’2 (188cm) would be pretty handy I would have thought.”

But Geelong United is set to enter a senior women’s team in Big V next season, which could stretch the region’s talent pool.

“Obviously it will be a challenge because they already have the NBL1 side, so it will be interesting to see if the region can field enough women for three senior teams,” Matthews said. “I think we’ll all be running around looking for players.

“Obviously I’ve got a list of players I’d look at but I’ve got to review this season first before I can move forward with the next one.”

Meanwhile, Geelong Supercats fell to Ballarat Miners 0-2 on Saturday night in the Youth League One men’s grand final series after a 110-89 loss.