Todd Curley Q and A – Round 20

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

Curley spoke this week following Saturday's loss to Peel Thunder at Fremantle Oval ahead of the bye this week, and then the last two games against West Perth and Peel.

QUESTION: What are your initial reactions to that game where you did well to get back to within less than a goal early in the last quarter, but then conceded the last four goals to Peel?
ANSWER: It's disappointing. The first half was really poor but credit to the boys for coming out in the third quarter to play well and get back to within a kick in the last quarter, but then we fell away again which was disappointing.

Q: Cory Dell'Olio kicked three goals late in the third quarter to get you back into it, and then a couple of goals to Ryan Cook and Shaun Bewick early in the last saw you grab all the momentum. Did you think you were a good chance at that point?
A: I thought we had played so poorly in the first half and still not too far off the pace, so we felt that if we had the confidence to compete and play we'd be a chance to come back. And we did that and got within a kick, but just couldn’t go on with it.

Q: It was obviously pleasing to kick straight on goal which helped you stay in touch when otherwise you might not have been able to?
A: Yeah I thought we certainly generated shots in better spots, and they had shots from easier positions on the ground. They kicked straight from that, which was pleasing, but we certainly didn’t generate enough shots with just 12 shots from 43 inside 50s which is probably not good enough anyway.

Q: Peel's bigger bodies in the midfield got hold of you for the second time this year here at Fremantle Oval on days where the conditions have been difficult?
A: I certainly think they had more depth going through there than we did, and had more consistent contributors throughout which ended up being a big say in the game.

Q: Callum Ah Chee made such an impressive debut a few weeks back kicking three goals, but this was probably his best all-round performance?
A: He has played his part in all the games he's played in, but a couple have been tough for him when he's been playing forward and we haven’t generated much ball. But certainly in the games where we've pushed him into the midfield, like we did this week, he's showed that he can play inside and outside as a mid, and he's a beautiful kick and a good decision-maker. His pressure was good as well and he tackled and hit up, so he was good.

Q: Good to see a few of the younger guys you are giving opportunities to take those chances?
A: Well we can either keep going with the ones we've tried before or give the young blokes an opportunity. Callum's been really good, Matty Ah Siu has been pretty good, so has Dragovich and Branchi. They have come in and certainly played their part and there's a couple more in the twos putting their hands up, so we'll see what happens over the last couple of weeks.

Q: Josh Branchi is an interesting one. He comes from a basketball background and is still learning the game, but do you see enough to suggest he could become a top quality ruckman at this level?
A: Yeah and I think he's probably got some tools that clubs at the AFL level would look at too with his mobility and agility and height, and ability to run. I think you saw again this week that he showed he can also go and play forward to give you a good target, and something different. He's had a pretty good second half of the year.

Q: Josh Pullman is finishing the season in strong form up forward. Do you see enough in him to suggest you can build the forward-line around him long-term?
A: He still needs some help obviously, but he's a great character and works hard. He does everything right and prepares well, and generally plays well. He was really good again this week and kept us in it early, and kicked some good goals which was good.

Q: Ben Saunders kicked five goals in the reserves. Do you bring him back for the last couple of games or keep him in the reserves so he can play finals there?
A: We'll have to have a look to see what his output probably was given they won 21 goals to two. We'll have a to have a look because the last thing we want to do is bring him back in and breaks down early. We'll do what's best for the team and if we don’t think he can come in and contribute for a full game, then he'll have to still bide his time but we'll have a look at it over the bye.

Q: A lot of in-form players in the reserves, does someone like James Laurino get a chance in the league side the last couple of games?
A: Yeah certainly Jim Laurino was really close to playing this week and so was Tim Stewart, Kade Stewart and there's a fair few young guys who have been in pretty consistent form. The form of some of them is now going to be pretty hard to ignore.

Q: The bye now and then two tough games to finish off against finals bound teams West Perth and Peel. How do you approach the rest of the season?
A: Early on it will be all about getting the bodies right and we'll train pretty hard later in the week, and then have the weekend off and come back to have a red hot crack at the last two. As I said to the group, it's more about us playing and displaying how we want to play, and showing good form regardless of what goes on at the end of the year. The last couple of weeks we have played pretty good at times, and were OK against Subi, but been poor against East Perth and Peel, and we have to get ourselves back on rack and not worry about who we are playing.