Todd Curley Q and A – WA Day Foundation Derby

SOUTH Fremantle coach Todd Curley’s weekly question and answer session during the 2015 McDonald’s WAFL Premiership season.

Curley spoke following the remarkable WA Day Foundation Derby win over East Fremantle where the Bulldogs were without a host of key players, lost another in the opening minutes, went 33 points down by quarter-time but still found a way to win by five points with the last four goals.

QUESTION: You must be proud of that win given you were missing key players, lost Tim Kelly at the start, went down 33 points and found a way to win?
ANSWER: Yeah it wasn’t a special start that’s for sure. Losing Tim at the first bounce and then we were really reactive and to their credit I thought they came out and played really good footy in the first quarter. But after that we showed some real resilience, it was a real team performance, a gutsy win with one man down and to come back in a derby away from home was a good effort.

Q: Couldn’t have had a worse start losing Tim Kelly and giving up two goals in less than the first two minutes. How were you able to turn it around after quarter-time?
A: Well I didn’t do much at all but to the boys’ credit they really dug in, started to compete and played the way we want to play. Our leaders really stood up led by our captain who really got us going, and so did Ashton and Kyle, and Googs down back. Our leaders really stood up when we needed them.

Q: It was an intense, tough game and you could see both sides were out on their feet. But you managed to kick the last four goals even down a man?
A: They trained really well during the break and looking back to the East Perth game they really hung in as well. I think when they stick together, play as a group and support each other, we have a pretty resilience team but like any team, if you don’t come to play you get exposed quick and that happened early. But to be five goals down away from and be able to turn it around was a good effort.

Q: You had some shots to go in front late that missed, then Mugambwa put you in front and then they had some shots late that could have regained the lead but missed. What were the nerves like in the box?
A: I think when it gets to that stage late in the game you really just have to sit back and hope that the things you have practiced and talked about pay off. I know we missed a couple of chances there late, but we were making the game for much of the last quarter. We just had to keep persevering and we did that, and thankfully when the siren went we were in front.

Q: You were part of plenty of big derbies at West Perth. This was your first taste of a WA Day Foundation Derby, how did you find it?
A: It seemed like there was a big crowd and a bit of spirit around, and there was a fair bit of physicality in the game. I enjoyed it and you certainly always enjoy a win. I lost my first derby here so I’m 50-50 with one to go this year. It was a disappointing start, but we hung in there and kicked 12 goals to six after quarter-time so it was a good effort.

Q: Your captain Ryan Cook certainly made sure you weren’t going to lose?
A: Yeah he hung in. He probably hasn’t played the finals he would have liked since being here, so he’s desperate to keep his group and I thought he led them really well. She’s a pretty close comp and you just have to do the best you can each week, and quickly move on because it’s going to be pretty tight.

Q: Cory Dell’Olio had a slow start to the season because he had to, but he’s really building to some outstanding form now?
A: He’s probably been a bit frustrated himself and he had a really tough lead in, but in the State game he played really well. But this was probably his best four-quarter performance for us for the year and I think he will only get better.

Q: You threw in Josh Branchi to make his debut and Brock Higgins has been doing a power of work in the ruck, but I’m sure he enjoyed having some support as well so he could spend time forward?
A: He was good. He’s a big, tall kid and they don’t get any shorter when it gets tight but I thought he gave us something in the middle and when he was forward. He’s been in really good form all year and been desperately unlucky not to get a chance until now. I was really pleased with how he went, but the form he showed leading in is what he took into the league side and that’s really pleasing.

Q: Big hit that Tim Kelly took. Does that mean he misses Saturday against Perth as well?
A: We don’t know for sure, but you would think he is highly unlikely with a short break and a bad knock to the head. Tim’s welfare is the No. 1 priority so he’d be unlikely I would think.

Q: Good signs that you can win as well with Wilson, Saunders, Schloithe, Martinez and Kelly all not there. Any of those a chance to be back on Saturday?
A: We’ll just have to wait and see probably. I’d think that Blayne Wilson will certainly be available, Schloithe and Martinez have been out for a while so it’ll be about what’s best for the team, but we want to be in a position where both our senior and reserves teams are playing well where those guys have to fight their way back in. If they have to fight their way back in that means we are doing things well.

Q: Tough now with a short break to back up against Perth on Saturday at Fremantle Oval?
A: I had a look at them on Saturday and they are playing with real spirit, and are having a real crack and playing some pretty good footy. We had a five-day break after Anzac Day as well and managed to play well and beat East Perth who had the seven days. We will recover really well and now look forward to the weekend.