Todd Curley Q and A – Round 4

SOUTH Fremantle coach Todd Curley's weekly question and answer session during the 2015 McDonald's WAFL Premiership season.

Curley spoke following Saturay's loss to Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval and looks ahead to this Saturday's top-of-the-table clash with reigning premiers Subiaco at Fremantle Oval.

QUESTION: First time talking after a loss this year. What was different out there this week against Swans than in the first three games?
ANSWER: I think we have been pretty good for the first three games and certainly in the pre-season we were up and about, but today we came up against a team that was a bit more desperate than us, and played more as a group. Certainly at the critical stages they were better than us so there's plenty to learn from it.

Q: It appeared that they put you under a lot more pressure than the teams in the first three weeks did, is that how it felt to you?
A: Maybe, I don’t know. Their pressure was good but I thought they probably beat us on the outside as well. Look they were better inside and better outside, so there's plenty for us to work on. Our use of the ball was pretty poor at times and they really counterpunched well from that. It was a good performance by them, but we know we can get better and we know we are better than that. We only have to wait another week to get a chance and I would think the boys would be pretty keen to turn it around.

Q: In some ways do you learn more from a loss and can it be a good thing still early in the season to get a bit of a wakeup call?
A: I don’t think you should need a wakeup call, but you certainly learn different things about players and the game, and the opposition as well. They were really good the opposition so they only allowed us to play as well as we did, which wasn’t good enough. We've got some stuff to work on to get better and we'll do that.

Q: Both teams liked to have a loose man in defence. You had Blayne Wilson playing very well in that role but they also had Justin Simpson and Tony Notte at times. How did you see that battle?
A: It was a tough game conditions wise with a really strong breeze going one way so we thought Blayne held up well and did a good job, but we probably gave up some soft goals at time. Then you get the pressure of the scoreboard. It was a pretty good battle but they certainly used the ball better and took their chances especially early in the game. The disappointing part was with the game on the line and they were dominant everywhere.

Q: You had the breeze in the last quarter, but when they kicked the first two goals to lead by more than five goals it was always going to make it tough?
A: I think we got the first stoppage and had a shot but missed from 20 out which would have closed the gap. Then they counterpunched to kick a goal at the other end and pretty much from that point on I thought they were dominant. They won the ball inside, used it well and beat us pretty comprehensively.

Q: What do you learn from this game to take into the clash with Subiaco?
A: We just have to get back to what we've been doing and what we know works. We've trained all summer and it's been a good summer, we played pretty well through the practice matches and now the first three weeks. The other positive is that we didn’t really play well at all and the final margin is only 20 points. That's disappointing I guess, but we have to get back on the horse.

Q: Guys picked up a lot of the ball and guys like Mugambwa were in the goals in a 104-point win in the reserves so there's pressure on for spots?
A: Yeah there has been pressure on for spots consistently. There has been guys who have had to really wait for their chance and there is probably every chance that a couple of them will get that opportunity they have been craving. They will come in and they'll be desperate, and hopefully they'll drag the rest of the boys along with them.

Q: Always good to test yourselves against the reigning premiers early in a season, what are you expecting from Subiaco next Saturday at Fremantle Oval?
A: Obviously they are a good side, they are the reigning premier and have started the season well. I've probably said it before already this year, but we are pretty early into a new season with a new coach and new group. We are really looking at getting ourselves playing our game right, and working on our game at the moment and that's probably our main focus.

Q: How important is it to bounce back strongly?
A: I think you should always want to bounce back, no one likes to be beaten. We want to get back on the horse and play the footy that we know we can.