It took a while for the reigning premiers to click into gear with the home team taking a nine-point lead into the first break.

In the second term the Storm took control of the game, scoring three goals to one to extend their lead at the long break.

The home team continued to apply pressure to their opponents in the second half with a strong defensive output the catalyst for the win.

The third team had just one goal scored for each team but the Storm finished in a flurry to add three majors to win comfortably 9.6.60 to 3.1.19. 

Captain Ayesha Nicholson was the leading goalkicker for her team with three majors while Meg Wik and Ella Wood chimed in with two each in the big win.

Lauren Sykes was named the Storm's best on ground ahead of Nicholson and Isabella Simmons.

Storm football Manager David Nicholson said it was a tough game.

“The girls may have thought they were going to win it by more but North Ballarat are always strong and competitive,” he said.

“It looked like North Ballarat tended to be everywhere all the time, so our girls did not have a great run at it at different times and they certainly shut down our run.”

Nicholson said it is obvious teams are coming harder at the team on the field after last year’s grand final win.

“For sure they are coming at us harder now,” he said.

“They have a lot of respect for our team, you hear the coaches talking about how good our girls are going and how they hope to reverse the results in the finals.”

The win keeps the Storm at the top of the ladder with a 155 per cent gap to the Lakers in second position.

The Storm will play Creswick in their round 12 match at Doug Lindsay Reserve on Sunday.

First bounce is set for 11.30am.