Todd Curley Q and A – Round 9

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

Curley this week spoke following Saturday’s 44-point loss to Peel Thunder at Fremantle Oval following the bye, and looks ahead to the next 16 days leading into the Foundation Derby on WA Day against East Fremantle at ATOM Stadium.

QUESTION: What did you make of that performance against Peel?
ANSWER: Yeah it was a pretty disappointing effort and we certainly didn’t come to play early, and for most of the first half. We were beaten in every facet and then the third quarter was OK but in the last quarter we fell away again. That all means we have a fair bit of work to do over the break.

Q: You played so well before the bye to beat East Perth with your intensity and pressure right up. That just didn’t seem there at all this week even in tough conditions?
A: Well they had the same conditions to play in as well, and it was a pretty inexperienced group as well for them. They only had a couple of guys that have played more than 50 games, so to be bullied around the ball and beaten in the hard ball in the first half like we were, they just beat us to the ball and were just far too good.

Q: To beat East Perth so impressively and not back it up, pretty frustrating?
A: Well I guess 90 per cent of that is probably above the shoulders, so you know we just didn’t come to play and didn’t start with the same intent. We didn’t have any intent to win the ball and didn’t really have any intent to pressure and get the ball back. Even when we did get the ball we didn’t really have the intent to really use the ball well and consequently in the first half we were especially terrible.

Q: You were clearly unhappy at half-time and let them know it. What did you think of the reaction?
A: It’s always disappointing to have to challenge the group halfway through the game, but I thought our third quarter was really good. We competed and won the ball and got it forward in pretty tough conditions, and looked dangerous even though a couple of skill errors hurt us. We could have been closer at the last break, and then the first 10 minutes of the last quarter were pretty good, but when you give up that much of a start you’re under enormous pressure. We gave up a goal on three quarter-time and then a couple goals soft late which was really disappointing.

Q: What do you now focus on to try to get the best out of the group?
A: We will train really hard but the players had played nine games in-a-row leading into the last bye so they had a pretty light week. So this week we will train pretty strong and we will have five sessions to improve and to be ready for the next derby.

Q: Without Saunders and Pullman, the forward-line struggled to function that well. Expect both back for the derby?
A: I’ve got no idea really, hopefully, but I thought Gumby looked dangerous early and he got a little bit sore. But for the most part we really couldn’t get the ball forward with any sort of fluid motion apart from in that third quarter.

Q: Guglielmana did another good job defensively and McIntosh and Wilson continue to play well. And Gillespie has done quite well in two games back now too?
A: We are looking for some flexibility and I thought Gillespie was very good against East Perth and probably not as good this week but he’s been playing back for a while and gives us something different with a bit of speed so look I’m sure he will bounce back. The backs have been good but they are under siege for a lot of the game.

Q: Any chance Schloithe and Martinez will be close in 16 days time?
A: They will be around the mark but we just don’t know. As it gets closer hopefully they will get more training in but we will just pick 22 fit guys that have done the work and are ready to play.

Q: You have Cook, Wilson Dell’Olio, Ashton Hams and Pickett in the State squad. Expect them all to play?
A: Apart from Saunders who’s probably not going to be available anyway I think the others will be in the mix and their form has been pretty good. I think the ground will suit them so we will just have to wait and see.

Q: Long time until the next game for a coach?
A: No not really. I get to review the game over the next couple of days, and we get to training and start improving on Tuesday. We will be straight back to it.