Versatile Steve Verrier open to any challenge against Lions

STEVE Verrier is one of a host of colts premiership players at South Fremantle now looking to translate that into league success with the Bulldogs one win away from a first WAFL grand final appearance since 2009.

Verrier played in the Bulldogs’ colts premiership of 2011 alongside Haiden Schloithe, Jason Maskos, Jacob Martinez, Mason Shaw and his brother Brendan. All played key roles in Saturday’s qualifying final victory over West Perth at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

It was the first league final for South Fremantle since the losing 2011 first semi-final to Subiaco and the 52-point win was the Bulldogs’ first finals triumph since the 2009 grand final.

Now South Fremantle advances to the second semi-final this Sunday against Subiaco with a place in the 2016 WAFL grand final up for grabs.

Last Saturday’s win was the first taste of a league final for 16 of South Fremantle’s 22 players with 20 of the line-up playing in a final for the Bulldogs for the first time. Ashton Hams and Ryan Cook were the only ones to have previously played a final in the red-and-white.

The Bulldogs made a flying start kicking five goals inside the first 12 minutes before the Falcons steadied. South Fremantle again kicked away with seven goals to one in the third quarter to set up the 52-point. Verrier enjoyed his first taste of finals at league level.

“We had a real good start obviously and it was a pretty good four-quarter performance. All the boys played well and it was a great all-round performance,” Verrier said on The Kennel on 91.3 SportFM.

“One of the main focuses going into the game was to get a good start and we delivered. It was five goals to zip at one stage and that put us in good stead for the rest of the game.

“We just wanted to keep playing our way and we knew we’d eventually get the result if we kept putting pressure on the ball and getting West Perth to turn the ball over. We worked hard for it and that third quarter was really good from us.”

Verrier has now been back at South Fremantle for three years following two years in the AFL with Richmond following the 2011 colts premiership.

He was playing well in his first season and-a-half back with the Bulldogs up until a wrist injury ended his 2015 early. But his 2016 has been outstanding and while the majority of that has been by playing roles as an inside midfielder, he has again proven a versatile asset for coach Todd Curley.

Verrier has proven he can play as an attacking midfielder winning plenty of his own having games of 30 possessions twice this year while he can also perform run-with roles including on West Coast’s Jack Redden against East Perth when he kept him quiet and was dangerous himself.

The 23-year-old has also spent some time at half-forward and down back and in last Saturday’s qualifying final he moved to half-back to play on West Perth hard man Kody Manning and he was one of the Bulldogs’ best with 25 possessions, seven marks and six tackles.

Verrier is happy to play any role asked of him and enjoyed the chance to go back on Saturday and to match up on a premiership and state player from West Perth like Manning.

“My main role is just to do everything for the team each week and doing anything I can to help us get a win. I’m happy to play wherever I’m asked and it’s not too bad getting down back every now and then,” he said.

“It was a bit of a different role for me going down back but I have played there before. I’ve spent the majority of this year in the midfield and I was just happy to play my role for the team down back. It was nice to play well in a final but it was more important that the whole team played well.”

Verrier enjoyed his two years with Richmond despite not quite breaking through for an AFL debut, but adjusting to the smaller ovals the VFL was played on wasn’t the easiest transition for him to make.

But when he found himself delisted at the end of 2013, he was never going to go anywhere but return to South Fremantle and he hasn’t regretted it for a second.

“It was an easy decision to come back here and I wanted to play with my brother as well here. I knew most of the boys already and couldn’t see myself playing anywhere else to be honest. I love the club and hopefully we get some success this year,” he said.

“It was real different to Perth I must admit with the smaller decks a bit of a shock to be honest, but it was good to experience life in Melbourne and to live with a few of the boys over there.

“It was a real good experience and Richmond is a pretty big club and it’s right in the middle of the city as well. It was a real good time and I enjoyed it over there.”

Verrier enjoyed the chance to play in such an emphatic finals victory last Saturday and everyone at the Bulldogs are feeling good coming into Sunday’s clash with Subiaco with a win to take them into a grand final.

But at the same time, given South Fremantle hasn’t beaten Subiaco the past two years mean that Verrier and everyone at the Bulldogs know how big of a challenge it is against the premiers of the past two years.

“Everyone’s up and about especially at this time of year. We’ve had a good season finishing second on the ladder so everyone is feeling pretty confident and there’s a little bit of belief there, but we have to keep that up,” Verrier said.

“Everyone is excited down here and hopefully there’s more exciting times ahead. They are a really experienced team with a lot of finals experience and they are a big-bodied side. We’ll have to take it up to them but we know they are a great side with a lot of games under their belt.

“It’s going to be tough to beat them. Anything can happen in a final so we’ll see what happens. Hopefully we bring our best and can get the result.”