Coach Post Match – Todd Curley Round 6

WHAT South Fremantle coach Todd Curley had to say following the thrilling ANZAC Derby win over East Fremantle and looking ahead to this Saturday's clash of the undefeated teams against Subiaco at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

QUESTION: You did look on top for most of the day but couldn't finish them off in front of goal. Then you had to find something late after they hit the front and you found a way to win?
ANSWER: Full credit to them for keeping on coming all day, which we discussed that they would do. We probably didn’t finish off as well as we would have liked to keep the door open and they almost came charging in but it was really pleasing that we responded in the last couple of minutes to get over the line.

Q: The last couple of minutes was pretty hectic after Perham kicked a goal to put them in front. But Schloithe found some space to take a mark and somehow put it through and then you held on?
A: It was pretty pleasing. We haven’t had a real close result this year or played in that sort of pressure. I thought we dealt with it OK when we were behind and when we got in front. It was a good learning experience for a lot of our guys, but we still have a lot to work on which is also pleasing.

Q: First time this year where you haven’t really made the opposition pay in front of goal, but given you have done so for the first four games you wouldn’t be too concerned?
A: It's not a trend yet and their pressure was pretty good, but we probably missed some chances we'd normally take. We will just keep working hard and now we have a massive challenge this week against Subi. If you don’t take your chances against them they'll certainly make you pay.

Q: Your back-line had an interesting day and Josh Pullman would have learned a lot from his battle with Matthew Watson, and Blayne Wilson was very good again?
A: We probably didn’t defend as well as we would have liked and that was because we didn’t get the pressure on we wanted further up the ground. So they got a bit more flow moving the ball forward which put a bit more pressure on the defenders, but it's all good learning. Josh hasn’t been under-siege like that playing down back so far so I'm sure he will learn a lot from it.

Q: Ben Saunders has won Bernie Naylor Medals and always been a natural goal kicker, but his defensive pressure seems to have gone up a level this year?
A: He's been fantastic all year and the thing you know about Ben is that he's got that ability to keep his feet, and he's pretty good overhead and at ground level. He will always get his shots on goal, but his pressure has been a standout and some of the chases and half tackles that he put on made a difference. I thought his pressure was great and then to stand up and take a really big contested mark for us was important. He is starting to play like a real leader for us and he's worked hard, so it's good to see.

Q: Were you confident that Haiden Schloithe would kick the winning goal when he was lining up?
A: He is a pretty good set shot at goal but has missed a few more than normal so far this year. But I think he has really grown also as a leader and he's still only a young man, but he's played a lot of footy now. He is one of those guys who wants the ball in his hands and you're never over confident, but I was happy it was Haiden with the ball.

Q: Tim Kelly had a quiet first half and then had an outstanding second half, and it's his strength around the contest that really stands out?
A: We were probably more pleased with the fact that he was well down in the first half on where he's been this year, but he showed some real resilience. His second half was outstanding. He has been a really consistent player for us this year and this was probably his first down period he's had in a game, but the great thing was he fought back and had a real influence after half-time.

Q: It appears you have come through unscathed again and with Brock Higgins and Chris Luff now back in the reserves, and a host of others pushing for selection the depth is looking good?
A: It doesn’t appear to be anyone who has pulled up injured again and the twos have been really consistent. There have been guys really stacking some form together so we will pick our best team who we think can give us the best chance of competing with Subi.

Q: Do you get the feeling the group is excited now to test themselves against Subiaco?
A: They clearly have been the best side the last three or four years so it's a good chance for us to see where we're at. We weren’t at our best this week but it still showed some good resilience to get over the line and take the points. It would have been easy to lie down going behind that late in the game. It's a good chance for us to challenge the best and see how we stack up.

Q: They scored three reasonably big wins over you last year, what makes them the standout team in the competition?
A: They are just more consistent in bringing their best footy for longer. They are really experienced, have some great mids, dangerous forwards and even though they've had a fair bit of change in their back-line, they are still really solid back there. They are really well organised and are a talented team. It will be a good test for us.