Coach Post Match – Todd Curley Round 9

SOUTH Fremantle coach Todd Curley speaking after the WAFL Round 9 loss to Perth to close the home and away season as the Bulldogs turn attention to hosting the second semi-final against Claremont on Sunday.

QUESTION: How do you feel coming out of that game, they dominated the last quarter and you just couldn’t get out of their forward-line?
ANSWER: Obviously we had some different personnel with young guys down there but we couldn’t get our hands on the ball even around the middle. We didn’t use the ball that well either. We kept kicking it back to their numbers which is what they wanted. We didn’t use the ball well enough.

Q: Against a team with so much to play for, were you reasonably happy with what you did for the first three quarters?
A: We did some stuff right but it felt like we were always chasing our tails a bit, and shuffling the deck chairs a bit. You couldn’t question the effort and I think the boys really tried hard, but just at times during the day we lost the composure with the ball and they scored.

Q: What's your reaction as opposition coach when you play against a team that wins a game against you that means so much?
A: I didn’t really think a lot of it to be honest. To be honest I didn’t even know that them winning got them in for sure because I didn’t see the results from earlier in the day and didn’t know what it meant for them. We were just focused on us and there was some really good opportunities for some young blokes to come in, and we had done a lot of work during the year to be in the position we are. We've taken no risks with all the boys this year and we had a couple pull up crook in the last 24 hours and there was no point taking any risks with them.

Q: A game with that intensity and the opposition with so much to play for, is that good finals preparation?
A: Definitely for the ones who played it would be but it will be important too to get a few back next week who will be fresh in the legs after a week off. You can never play under pressure enough, it always helps and we'll move on pretty quick and start preparing for next week.

Q: That back-line was under pressure and now all of a sudden there's pressure on there for spots with Dent, Wilson, Strom, Luff and Maskos all looking to return?
A: Obviously with how things felt we didn’t take any risks this week and pretty much all those five will be available for next week, and most of them have only missed a week so there'll be no issues there. Denty has been running really well too. So we'll recover and prepare, we've got eight days and don't play until Sunday so I don’t think there'll be any issues there.

Q: One loss doesn’t take away from how good this season has been, how proud are you to finish clear on top of the ladder heading into the finals?
A: We are proud that we've got the second chance which is what everyone was playing for. You don’t get it by luck and we obviously earned that right so we have the double chance and obviously get to play a home final which we are looking forward to now.

Q: It comes around quickly and now all of a sudden you are one win from a Grand Final, what comes to mind when you think of it in those terms?
A: Probably until you say it you don’t realise it if you know what I mean, you're always just focused on the work week to week. It's a new season now for the finals and we restart this week. Obviously Claremont and us have done well enough to get a second chance but I'm sure they are just as keen as we are to win and go through by winning on Sunday.

Q: Third final you've played against Claremont now in 12 months, thought on them as your second semi-final opponent?
A: They're a good team and have been a good team for a long time. But we think we are a pretty good team as well and it will be a battle, it always is and they are always pretty close and physical affairs. It's a good achievement to get there to this point but we are still looking forward.

Q: As coach, what's the feeling like to be preparing for the finals again?
A: This is why we're all here. We are obviously rapt to have earned the right to play and now we just want to go out and play. There's certainly no nerves at this stage, it's just about looking forward to the opportunity and hopefully we get a nice, fine day and there's a big crowd there on Sunday.