Coach Post Match – Todd Curley Second Semi-Final

WHAT South Fremantle coach Todd Curley had to say following the WAFL second semi-final loss to Subiaco and now looking to this Sunday's preliminary final against Peel Thunder at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

QUESTION: It seems to be a similar story every time you play Subiaco. You stick with them for most of the game but they blow you away in a 20-minute burst and that happened again either side of three quarter-time?
ANSWER: We dominated the first 10 minutes of the third quarter but kicked 1.2 and three out on the full. If you don’t take your chances against good teams, eventually the momentum will turn and they will have their turn. They certainly took their chances and it was disappointing we didn’t take ours.

Q: Was there more you could have done when they got that momentum or do you just feel you paid for not taking your chances?
A: Is there more we could have done? Maybe but we thought and still do think that at our best we can mix it with anyone. But when you go through our side we've had a pretty good six or eight weeks from all of them but this week we had too many guys who were well down on what they've been able to produce. They are a pretty proud group and I'm sure they will bounce back.

Q: Marlion Pickett had a pretty good battle with Liam Ryan for a lot of the day especially in the first half. But sometimes special players come up big and he did that for Subiaco?
A: Marlion wasn’t on him all day either but I thought our backs stood up pretty well. They had 60 inside 50s and some of the entries weren’t under a lot of pressure. I thought our backs hung in pretty well to only concede 14 goals from 60 entries. I thought they were OK.

Q: Josh Pullman and Blayne Wilson really stood up in particular as your key defenders like they have all season?
A: At times their forwards were dangerous but we were able to hold them for the most part. They kicked a fair few midfield goals as well which we will have to look at, but they are a good team. We knew we'd have to be at our best to beat them and we weren’t. So we got beat and that's how it goes.

Q: It's the first finals series for most of your players and that was a tough, contested and physical final to be part of against the reigning premiers. Will they learn a lot from it?
A: Maybe. At half-time it was five goals to four and then if we took our chances to start the third quarter we could have been in front. But we didn't and they did up the other end and they made us pay. As I said to them after the game, we are in the same position as we were before the game knowing if we win next week we are in the grand final. The players have earned that right, it hasn’t just been given to them and at the end of the day we lick our wounds, and start preparing for next week and knowing if we win we are in the grand final.

Q: Do you get the sense some guys are really starting to feel not having had a bye since Round 17 meaning it's now eight straight games?
A: We've planned our program around what was coming and most of them have had a bit of time off here or there. Everyone is a bit sore this time of year and they had a few sore blokes as well going into the game, it's just how it is.

Q: Brock Higgins did another mountain of work in the ruck against a couple of opponents and he will need to do the same again against Peel, will you back him in to do it virtually on his own?
A: He's been important for us and he will be important for us again. We've backed him pretty much all year and we're not going to change too much from what we've done all year because of one loss. No doubt there were blokes who were disappointed and guys who played OK in the twos. Ash will come back in obviously so there will be change, but there won't be change for change sake. Most of the guys who were down have been pretty good the last six to eight weeks so we'll give them the chance to bounce back.

Q: Do you get the sense Ashton Hams is determined to make up for being suspended?
A: He was probably one who did appreciate the week off though. He's pretty proud and I'm sure he'll bounce back and play pretty well.

Q: You are pretty much in the same position now still needing one win for a grand final?
A: This time of year it's about freshening up and making sure we are feeling as good as we can physically going into the game. Obviously Peel has a fair side and won pretty easily again against West Perth so it's going to be a big challenge for us, but it's one we welcome.

Q: When you've played Peel this year they have had plenty of Fremantle-listed players so it's something you are used to coming up against?
A: They're a good, quality outfit and are well organised and well coached with some experienced players that lead pretty well. They will be a big challenge for us but we think we are up for it.

Q: Is it good to be playing at home even though the advantage might be lessened given their Fremantle players are also based there?
A: It's nice to play at home but we are quite happy to play anywhere and I think the only away games we've lost all year have been against Subi here. It's good to play at home with the familiarity of your own rooms and everything so from that point it's good. It's also good for our footy club and our fans. They might train there a lot but they haven’t played there too often. It's a different kettle of fish but they will be comfortable as well a lot of them. But at the end of the day you have the carrot of going into a grand final if you win and if not you start planning for next year. It's the second last game of the year and if you win you're in a grand final so that's a pretty big carrot.