Todd Curley Q and A – ANZAC Day Derby

SOUTH Fremantle coach Todd Curley speaking after the Bulldogs’ ANZAC Day Derby victory over East Fremantle ahead of the bye this week and then a clash with Perth at Lathlain Park in Round 8.

QUESTION: If I told you when you were 19 points down midway through the third quarter that you’d win by 41 and it could have been more, you would have taken that?
ANSWER: Definitely we would take the four points before the game anytime, especially in a derby. Looks like we got through unscathed, we certainly weren’t at our best I thought we warmed to it half way through the third quarter. To kick 13.22 and have 68 inside 50’s the score board maybe doesn’t do it justice but I guess that’s down to East Fremantle’s pressure to force us not to play our way.

Q: It must be pleasing that again you showed that you can pile a lot of goals on in a short period to blow an opposition away?
A: Especially early I thought our ball use inside 50 was really poor, some of our options really were hard to defend as well and they scored a lot on turnovers. We thought if we could clean that up and deliver the ball inside 50 a bit better and make their defenders defend a bit more then we could get back into the game. Look obviously Marlion going forward gave us a bit of a spark. I thought as we started to put some pressure on in that third quarter, I think everyone sort of joined in.

Q: Were you always confident that you’d end up being rewarded for the amount of opportunities you were creating?
A: It’s important to not get frustrated and focused on the scoreboard, we think that if we can bring consistent effort in the way we play and play our way we’ll be competitive. You can’t let outside forces effect the way you go about it. I thought we maybe played a bit frustrated in the first half, and then when we focused on pressuring the ball and getting the ball back when the opposition have got it and keep it simple I thought we were better.

Q: You’d be pleased with the overall effort again with a lot of contributors?
A: I thought we had some players that stood up at certain times, there was probably less guys that were consistent over four quarters. We got to get better at that because against the really good teams you can’t afford to pick and choose. We had one really bad week but apart from that we’ve been pretty good, you got to be positive.

Q: They tried to exploit Brock Higgins by using both Symonds and Watson against him, but he was clearly the best ruckman in the game?
A: We thought he was really good, I thought his second half he really stepped up when we needed. Still working his way back he’s played two or three back now. He gives you so much, he gives you everything he’s got. I thought he was a good player for us.

Q: Tim Kelly and Haiden Schloithe were again outstanding in the midfield?
A: No Doubt. I thought again tonight they were a couple of the boys that gave us a strong four quarter effort It’s been a credit to them. I think Dylan Main gets overlooked, because the other two have been so strong. Dylan’s been super consistent as well and Cook’s been pretty good when he’s been in there. I think the midfield’s been working really good as a collective I mean Shane Hockey was a bit sore at times tonight, he too when he’s been in has really weighed in. We think as a collective group our mids have been pretty strong.

Q: It’s a good position to be in with so many guys capable of playing league football in the reserves and with Steve Verrier and Ashton Hams to come back?
A: We have acknowledged that it is frustrating at times for guys that can’t get in, but it’s a strong place to be. We know that it’s not going to be like that forever because things will change. Ash will be pretty close to being available for the game against Perth. Verrier is probably only a fortnight away as well. They’re two first choice players for us. Then you got Jarrod Parry, Jake Florenca, Tyson Pickett and Josh Pullman all young even Noah Strom as well. Chad Pearson and even Kyle Russell was unlucky to miss out today. It’s a good place to be in. I think when you’ve got everyone available you’ve got to make the most of it and hopefully we can continue to do that.

Q: Could you have asked for a better start to the season?
A: Yeah we’d like six. It’s important we’ve banked five wins. It’s been an interesting couple of weeks for us we had a ten-day break before today and then another ten-day break then we get Perth, Subiaco and East Perth so it’s a big month for us.

Q: How do you now approach the bye ahead of taking on Perth at Lathlain?
A: We try and probably plan out the whole year, like I said before it’s a big commitment when you have guys that are working and it’s not your main gig. They had the weekend off and we trained late Sunday. Then we’ll train a couple of times this week try and give them Saturday and Sunday off and get back into our normal routine as of next Monday. We try and freshen them up where we can.