Coach Post Match – Todd Curley Round 22

WHAT South Fremantle coach Todd Curley had to say following Saturday’s four-point victory over a desperate East Perth at Medibank Stadium and looking ahead to this Saturday’s Round 23 match against Perth at Lathlain Park as preparations continue for the finals the following week.

QUESTION: Even though it got a bit tight there at the end, are you happy to come away with a victory against a team that needed to win and has plenty of finals experience?
ANSWER: We were pretty good for large portions of the game. Maybe being five in front halfway through the last quarter the intensity dropped off a little and they kicked a couple of quick ones, and some belief set in. But I thought we steadied OK and hung on pretty well so it’s probably a pretty good tune up going forward.

Q: You would have known they were going to finish hard and they were kicking to the scoring end in the last quarter, and they needed to win so they hit back hard, but you would have been happy to steady against a desperate team?
A: I thought a lot of the stuff that we tried to do during the day the boys stuck to it. Sometimes it wasn’t pretty but last time we struggled to score against them because they are a really good defensive team. We only kicked nine goals last time, this time we kicked 13 and that’s an improvement.

Q: Good also to kick a winning score without relying on Ben Saunders and you had Haiden Schloithe and Mason Shaw booting seven between them?
A: It’s important because we don’t want to rely on any one forward. Mason at times can kick some significant goals, so can Schloithe and Saundo. He didn’t have a great game this week but on other games we know he can step up. Blaine Johnson was pretty quiet as well but he can kick goals. Tyson Pickett’s pressure was really good again in our forward-line too. We think the balance of our attack gives us the opportunity that if a couple of them aren’t having a great day we can still kick a winning score. It was pleasing.

Q: Against a team desperate to win and who had plenty of AFL and finals experience in the group, was this ideal preparation for the finals?
A: Touchwood we haven’t lost anyone through injuries and now we should get Tim Kelly and Adam Guglielmana back in the next week or so. Otherwise we are pretty healthy and got four points from the game, so that’s 14 wins now for the year and we’ve locked away a home final. We’ll get to play finals for the first time in five years and it’s pleasing.

Q: Now that finals are so close and you continue to win and play good footy, can you feel the excitement around the whole club really lifting?
A: It’s probably a tough one this week to find that balance with a game to go before finals knowing you are going to play, so we have to stay focused on this week and not the week after. That will be the challenge. But playing finals will be exciting, there’s no doubt about that. That’s why you play and train all summer.

Q: Different guys standing up too which was pleasing and Jacob Dragovich had a tremendous game and Brendan Verrier continued his form?
A: We’ve tried to develop a few more this year. Main has come in and played well again as an inside-mid, Dragovich’s last eight to 10 weeks have been really consistent for us and Freshy Verrier just runs all day. We are at our best when no one has absolute standout days and everyone has an equal impact on the game. Hopefully that can continue.

Q: Jack Redden would have been hoping for a big game to try and break back into the Eagles team, but Steve Verrier did a great job not only keeping him quiet but hurting him the other way too?
A: Last time we played them he was the difference with 27 and kicking three goals, and he started a lot of their play. But I thought Steve’s job especially in the first half to quell his influence and also give us something going the other way was really strong. He stuck to his task and I thought at the end of the day he came out in front on points.

Q: Interesting week to play against a team without much to play for in Perth and knowing that no matter what you’ll be finishing second. You also haven’t had a bye for a while, do you feel like anyone desperately needs a break?
A: I think most of our guys have missed a game or two here and there, there’s not a heap who have played every game. But we’ll see how everyone pulls up and regroups. Certainly if there’s anyone who isn’t 100 per cent they won’t play. If they are good to go, they’ll play. If they’re not, they won’t and we will make that decision as the week goes on.

Q: While the game doesn’t matter too much, how important is it to go into the finals continuing your good form?
A: Confidence comes from action and performance so we’ll be trying to play our best footy and keep it rolling. In saying that, I was also involved in a game where we left 15 guys behind and got flogged in Tasmania but came back and won a final not long after. But we are certainly not in that position so if our guys are fit and available, they’ll likely play.

Q: It was clear when you were appointed as coach that the task was to get the club back into the finals and now you’ve done that. Are you proud of what you’ve seen develop the past two years?
A: The one thing about our group is that they are really honest and they give you everything they’ve got. They have been really great at taking everything on board and this year they are driving themselves. They are a good group.

Q: Are Tim Kelly and Adam Guglielmana a chance to come back this week, and if not definitely the first week of the finals?
A: From what I was told they did some work on Saturday morning and they are pretty close to being right for this week, but they have to tick off everything. If they are right to go they will play and if not, it will probably be the week after. But they will be pretty close this week.