sport, local-sport, BFL, Milne, Baker, Strathfieldsaye, Sandhurst

THE combined 478 games of AFL experience between Stephen Milne and Steven Baker shone out on Saturday as they helped Strathfieldsaye to its first Bendigo Football League premiership. Milne booted six goals, while Baker - as he has been all season - was superb in the clinches with his defensive pressure and work-rate. Milne and Baker joined the Storm this year following careers at St Kilda in which they both played in three AFL grand finals, without winning one. While the Queen Elizabeth Oval isn’t as big a stage as the MCG on the last Saturday in September, Saturday’s 55-point grand final win over Sandhurst is a sweet premiership for the pair. “It’s all a bit surreal. We started a bit slow, but to win the way we did in the end is unbelievable,” Milne said. “To convince Bakes to come out of semi-retirement earlier this year and win a flag with him is a special time.” Saturday’s win was the Storm’s first BFL flag in just its sixth year in the competition. “To create history is something special and it’s fantastic to be one of the blokes who was part of the club’s first flag,” said Baker, who indicated he’ll play on at the Storm again next year. “The club is only young and to be part of the first one is probably the best one to be part of, and with the way the club is going, I’m sure it won’t be the last.” Milne had double reason to celebrate on Saturday. As well as winning a premiership, he also kicked his 100th goal of the season when he booted his fifth of the game early in the last term and was then mobbed by the crowd. “It was a good experience for the kids to run out and have a bit of fun with it,” Milne said. “But more importantly was getting the win with Bakes, my great mate as coach (Darryl Wilson) and 21 super team-mates. “It’s a special feeling and the way we stood up today was credit to everyone.”

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