Coach Post Match – Todd Curley Round 5

WHAT South Fremantle coach Todd Curley had to say following the Round 5 WAFL victory by 98 points over Perth at Lathlain Park and looking ahead to this Saturday's Anzac Derby at ATOM Stadium.

QUESTION: You got off to a flying start again like you have all season but it must have been especially pleasing to finish off the way you did and win by almost 100 points?
ANSWER: It's probably more about the way we played I think. I thought it was a bit of an arm-wrestle for the first half of the first quarter, but we hung in there and absorbed their pressure, and were able to put scoreboard pressure on late in the first quarter. That allowed us to dictate the game, but I thought the boys were really good and it was an even performance.

Q: The game followed a trend where you've had a 10 or 15-minute patch in the first quarter of blowing the game open and then you've been able to finish the job late in the game. Both aspects must be pleasing?
A: I think the players are getting some real confidence in the work they've done over the summer and knowing that they can run hard and run strong, and continue that late in the game. I thought it was a really even performance. When the heat was on early I thought we were really good.

Q: Your depth seems to be a lot better where you could cover any loss of players to injury like you couldn’t last year?
A: There's no doubt that it helps having everyone available bar Jarrod Parry and Chris Luff who will play this week. We have virtually everybody available so that makes it more of a challenge for the players to put their hand up, but when you have everyone up and going it helps. The twos were good again this week and we've certainly got a better spread through the midfield this year. But you are only as good as the talent you have available. If you have a look at West Perth, they are struggling at the moment but they've probably got five or six of their best 10 players out. You have to have them on the field, and we do at the moment.

Q: The back-line led by Josh Pullman and Blayne Wilson, along with McIntosh, Gundry and Pickett was outstanding?
A: The backs have been good and to concede less than 50 points again was really pleasing, but if you ask the backs they'll be the first ones to tell you that the forward pressure and the midfield pressure they are putting on at the moment means the ball movement hasn’t been as precise with it under pressure all the time. That helps the backs.

Q: Plenty of options up forward too and Mason Shaw was the one to stand up this week with five goals?
A: Saundo was our leading goal kicker going into the game and they were able to keep him reasonably under control even though he still kicked a couple. It was pleasing for Mason. He hasn’t played much footy the last couple of years but with his work rate he has been fantastic since he's come back. He got the rewards this week but Strommy is going well also and even the last goal that Mason kicked, it was after Zac led up hard to draw attention and Mase popped out the back. We had 11 goal kickers against so it's good.

Q: Massive job for Josh Branchi against an ex-AFL ruckman and he was clearly the best big man on the ground?
A: He is a young bloke finding his way. He was a bit frustrated a couple of weeks ago against East Perth playing against three giants, but he certainly learned a lot from it. He certainly gave us first use, especially early on this week, and Graham ended up playing forward for large portions. He took some contested marks as well and he is understanding the game well.

Q: In some ways could it be a positive to have Brock Higgins out so far this season to give Branchi this opportunity, and then when Brock's back in you have the option to play him in a variety of roles?
A: Even if you look at the end of last year we did blood a lot of young players through injury, which happens and when both Brock and Josh were available, Josh was taking the centre bounce stuff. It's now great to have Brock back out on the ground after he's missed a lot of footy. He's got a little bit of work to do but thankfully we are going alright and we can stick to the plan we have in place for him.

Q: Four wins from as many games is perfect preparation for an Anzac Derby against East Fremantle?
A: The good thing about derbies over the years are that it really doesn’t matter where you are on the ladder, they are always fierce and tight games that you want to play in. We look forward to it.

Q: Are you able to provide a quick update on Cam McCarthy training with the club now and also when you expect Zeph Skinner to arrive?
A: Zeph Skinner is expected in the next fortnight that he'll be down. He's just in the process of getting things organised. And Cam has started training and he'll keep training with us.