Todd Curley Q and A – Round 7

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

Curley spoke following the Bulldogs' 13-point win over East Perth at Medibank Stadium leading into the bye this week ahead of a clash with Peel Thunder at Fremantle Oval leading into the State game against South Australia at Lathlain Park on Saturday May 23.

QUESTION: It's been a tough three weeks but the boys put in a great performance against a side that was in form and coming off a big win? 
ANSWER: Yeah it was really pleasing. We thought we made a few steps in the right direction last week as well but didn’t get the result. We came off a short break, lost a man early and it was a really good effort. 

Q: Had your chances certainly in the first half to be in front but you went in to the break behind. But that third quarter was as well as you have played in the last month and close to as best you have played all season?
A: I thought we started really well and didn’t take our chances. Then gave up probably a couple of soft goals. Certainly after half-time and in the third quarter, our pressure and tackling really lifted and we were able to get some goals on the turnover. That was the best footy we have played in a quarter for a while in the third.

Q: The pressure you put on them was certainly a step up from the last few weeks, you probably were harder on the footy than they were? 
A: I guess it's an area we have been trying to work on a lot. I guess the pleasing thing is younger players like Dragovich was probably a leader in that area with his physicality. Certainly some of the more experienced payers lifted as well. It was a pretty even performance and certainly when our tackling and pressure is up it makes it easier for the back-line and it obviously gives the forwards a good chance to score too. 

Q: Speaking of forwards, James Sellar has probably been quiet the past couple of weeks but he was marking well and kicking goals again? 
A: He looked really dangerous for most of the day. To be fair for the last couple of weeks the forwards probably haven’t got a great supply the last couple of weeks. The ball hasn’t been coming in too well. He certainly competed well last week and it was pleasing for him to get his hands on it and he got a couple of goals as reward this week.

Q: Cory Dell'Olio had his best game as well and he certainly tore the game open in that third quarter? 
A: He’s a quality player and he certainly knows where the goals are, and how to kick them and finish really well. He has obviously had a tough summer and tough lead in, having to sit out a few games but I think he is just excited to get up and get some run in his legs, so we look forward to seeing that in the second part of the year. 

Q: Mentioned Dragovich before, his second league game in five days and his attack on the contest was fantastic and Panizza in his third game as well had the job on Brendan Lee before he went off just before three quarter-time he kept him really quiet as well?
A: It was really pleasing. It is pretty hard when you only have a three or four-day break and it was pretty hot on Monday and then East Perth had that break of an extra couple of days as well. But it shows if you’re not willing to let the game go, it doesn’t really matter what break you have got, you can hang in there and compete really strongly. The last 10 minutes we were out on our feet but we still hung in there and found a way to win.

Q: What do you know about Ben Saunders' ankle this stage? 
A: It's pretty good news we think, he rolled his ankle and he should be OK I think.

Q: The break probably helps that as well, given he has got two weeks to get up?
A: I think so, he is pretty positive so we will just wait and see how he pulls up.

Q: How tough have the last three weeks been and how good and important is it to have a win going into the bye? 
A: It's always important to have a win especially for the players. They have worked hard and haven't got the reward for that the last few weeks. I guess the Swans game, we didn’t really play well at all and the Subi game they were clearly too good for us on the day but last week we probably played 90 per cent of the game pretty well and let ourselves down for small patches. We think it's been coming but this week is just a pretty gritty performance.

Q: What are you doing the next two weeks? 
A: We will train Tuesday and Thursday this week, players will have the weekend off and reset on the Monday ready to take on Peel.