Pullman, Verrier grab chances presented through injury

SOUTH Fremantle might not have had a lot of injuries in 2015 in terms of numbers, but they have come to key players and that has opened up opportunities for others with a host of players stepping up including Josh Pullman and Steven Verrier in Saturday’s win over Perth.

The Bulldogs might have only had four players missing out of what might be considered their best 22 in last Saturday’s clash with the Demons at Fremantle Oval, but all of them are important players and needed others to stand up in their absence.

Full-forward and two-time Bernie Naylor Medal winner Ben Saunders made his return from an ankle injury in the reserves on Saturday, but after kicking two early goals he injured a hamstring and now will be sidelined again for several more weeks.

That means that others in the forward-line have had to step up and Paul Mugambwa since Saunders has been out has worked hard and on Saturday, the always hard-working Josh Pullman got reward for effort by kicking four goals from 16 possessions and six marks.

Despite the absence of the WAFL’s leading full-forward, South Fremantle still kicked 17 goals last Saturday in the win over Perth and coach Todd Curley was especially happy for Pullman to get the rewards for the hard work he continues to put in on and off the field.

“He’s had a little strange year. He had a really good summer, he started the season really well and then missed a game with injury, and then played a few and got injured again,” he said.

“He’s come back in and the one thing you know about him is that he does absolutely everything right off the field to prepare.

“He prepares really well and when you do that you earn the right to play well, and he was super this week from the start to the end. His work rate was super. Obviously what stands out is his marks and goals, but he chases and tackles and pressures and he has been really good for us.”

South Fremantle’s midfield was also missing what Curley might well have seen as his starting trio at the start of the season with Tim Kelly out after a concussion suffered in Monday’s derby win over East Fremantle, and Haiden Schloithe and Jacob Martinez playing a second game back in the reserves on return from injury.

That meant that Curley had to try some new things in the midfield and the main move was putting Steven Verrier onto the ball after playing him mostly in the forward-line so far in 2015.

The result was that he put in just about a best on ground performance with 27 possessions against the Demons and Curley was delighted with the end result, and now looks set to welcome back Kelly, Schloithe and Martinez this Saturday against Subiaco.

“We haven’t had a lot of injuries this year, but the ones we have had have been to Schloithe, Martinez and Tim Kelly, and that’s not a bad starting midfield,” he said.

“Stevie has played a little bit of midfield before and he’s been really good for us as that forward who pressures this year, but he’s really competitive and that’s why he went in there initially because he is competitive and doesn’t like to be beaten, and he’s pretty strong. He has been really good for us.”

South Fremantle has now strung together two strong wins since the State game beating East Fremantle and Perth in the space of five days, and by kicking the last four goals against the Sharks, and seven goals to one in the last quarter against the Demons.

However, Subiaco is the reigning premiers and sit two games clear on top of the ladder not to mention the 89-point win over South Fremantle earlier this season, so Curley knows his team needs to vastly improve this Saturday against the Lions at Medibank Stadium.

“We have to come to play for longer than a quarter,” Curley said.

“We were pretty good for a quarter last time and they are the premiership side, and they just keep doing what they do for longer than everyone else. We have to come to play and compete and hang in there, and that has to go right to the wire if we are going to be successful.”