Senior coach Todd Curley re-signs until end of 2019

SOUTH Fremantle senior coach Todd Curley has extended his contract for the next two seasons keeping him at the helm of the Bulldogs at least until the end of the 2019 WAFL season.

Curley took over the helm at Fremantle Community Bank Oval as senior coach at the beginning of the 2015 WAFL seasons with the Bulldogs having not played finals at league level since 2011.

Following a year of building and development in 2015 where there were plenty of encouraging signs, the past two seasons have been tremendous for South Fremantle with Curley in charge.

There was a second-place finish on the ladder in 2016 at the end of the home and away season with a 15-5 record. The Bulldogs would go on to thrash West Perth in the qualifying final but unfortunately fell to grand finalists Subiaco and Peel Thunder the next two weeks.

South Fremantle was able to back it up in 2017 with an even better home and away season, finishing again in second spot but with a 16-4 record. Again the finals saw the Bulldogs come up short against grand final pair Peel and Subiaco either side of a big win at home against Swan Districts.

With a 31-9 record over the past two home and away seasons and two successive preliminary final appearances, it became an easy decision for club and coach alike to agree on a contract extension that will see Curley remain in charge of the Bulldogs for at least the next two seasons.

That will see Curley at least a five-year coach of South Fremantle.

He originally came to the Bulldogs having had a break from top level football after a superb AFL and WAFL career. He played three games at Collingwood and 115 with the Western Bulldogs. While at West Perth, he was a 147-game star with two premierships to his resume as well as being captain.

Upon retirement, he took over as coach at West Perth for three years, culminating in a preliminary final appearance in 2008, before embarking on being assistant coach at the Fremantle Dockers.

But now at South Fremantle he feels at home and Curley was only too happy to sign on for two more seasons.

“I’m excited to extend my term at the South Fremantle Football Club until the end of 2019,” Curley said.

“It is a strong reinforcement that our players, coaching group and football program on the right track in our pursuit of success.”

South Fremantle Football Operations Manager David Depane is also delighted to have Curley locked in for the future so that the club can continue to build on the culture that he has helped create.

“It’s fantastic to have Todd on board for the next two seasons,” Depane said.

“It gives Todd, along with the returning group players a great opportunity to build on the hard work that we have all put in over the last few seasons.

“We have worked hard to improve our performances on field and culture off the field, and have built a strong platform for us to challenge strongly in 2018 and beyond.”