Harry Conway and Jake Moorehead have signalled intentions of a strong season ahead with impressive performances in Strathfieldsaye's practice match win against the visiting Nauru All-Stars on Tuesday night.
A largely young Storm side led their islander rivals throughout the four 17-minute quarters contest, prevailing 11.10 (76) to 6.2 (38) at Strathfieldsaye Recreation Reserve' second oval.
But the scoreboard was irrelevant to Storm coach Darryl Wilson, who was just glad to have his side be part of a remarkable innovation for Australian rules football.
"It was a bit of fun. Bendigo Bank approached us and asked if we wanted to play the boys," he said.
"But it was a good hit-out for us too - it was probably a little early for the boys - there's a lot of blokes not playing.
"It was a good physical hit out for us - the All-Stars are a good side."
Moorehead (three goals) and 2015 BFNL rising star award winner Conway gave the Storm a pair of handy targets up- forward.
Brad Stringer was also lively for the Storm, while Josh Martin provided the game highlight with a spectacular high mark deep in attack with five minutes remaining in the contest.
He duly went back and converted his second goal and extend the Storm's lead to 30 points.
They would add another after the siren to seal a 38-point win.
The All-Stars went into the game full of confidence after a win in the their first match of the tour against Zillemre Eagles in Brisbane on the weekend.
Wilson praised the Nauruans for their professional way they approached the game and predicted bright times ahead for the team at this year's AFL International Cup.
"They're a very physical side and they were very disappointed (with the loss)," he said.
"But they are very intent on getting better.
"They have some really big forwards."
One player to catch the eye was Bronco Deidenong, who booted four of his team's six goals. The full-forward booted three in last season's AFL Nauru grand final.
Deidenong has a previous haul of seven goals in a domestic grand final.
The game attracted a solid crowd, boosted by several visiting family members of the Nauruan players from Melbourne.
Nauru All-Star team manager Kenneth Oppenheimer said the team could be proud of his efforts against the Bendigo league powerhouse.
"They were a much stronger team than we came across in Brisbane, where we won by 12 goals," he said.
"This team was selected at the conclusion of last season back home in about October and throughout Christmas they were training on and off.
"It's basically a pre-season squad - 90 per cent of them are under 20."