Bulldogs can't fault finals preparation with nine-game winning runFriday, September 1, 2017 - 12:00 PM - by Chris Pike

SOUTH Fremantle is entering its second straight AHG WAFL Finals Series from second position with coach Todd Curley going in with no complaints with the Bulldogs on a nine-game winning run, but he knows too well that guarantees nothing.

Curley is in his third season coaching South Fremantle and after a developing year in 2015, the Bulldogs returned to finals action in 2016 for the first time since 2011.

They went on to beat West Perth in the qualifying final at Fremantle Community Bank Oval before losing the second semi-final to Subiaco at Leederville Oval and then the preliminary final to Peel Thunder back on home turf.

Going back 12 months, though, and 16 of the 22 South Fremantle players who entered last year's finals campaign were playing in a WAFL final for the first time while only two of them had previously played in a final for the Bulldogs.

So that finals series was a new experience for the majority of the group and definitely a great learning curve which South Fremantle has looked to build on in 2017.

The result was a tremendous home and away season finishing with a 16-4 record to lock away second position finishing off with a nine-game winning streak heading into Saturday's qualifying final against Peel Thunder at Fremantle Community Bank.

South Fremantle beat Peel at Bendigo Bank Stadium last week by 32 points as a tune up for this Saturday and Curley did take a bit out of that.

"It's a funny one with how to approach when you don’t have much to gain and we were a bit sluggish early but I thought in the second half we played some pretty good footy and we are going into the finals in pretty good shape," Curley said.

"We obviously wanted to win and we've been pretty consistent so realistically the result takes care of itself if you play the right way. There were a few areas we identified in the first half we could get better at but the second half was better."

Whether or not South Fremantle is a better team now than they were at the same time last year is something only time will tell about, but Curley can't fault that all the hard work has been done to put the Bulldogs in a strong position to succeed.

"It's hard to tell really, we won one more game than we did last year and this time last year the majority of the group wouldn’t have played in a final. But now they know what it's like to win and lose finals, and the disappointment that comes at the end of that," he said.

"They probably have a fair idea of how important it is to take your chances. Every team rocks up to the first week of pre-season training with the aim of playing finals and the more times you do the work and earn the right to play finals, the more chance you have to win. 

"We've worked really hard which is great, the group has been super and what they have done is earn the right to have a double chance. We started with nine teams, there's five left and of those only three have a double chance. We are really pleased and excited about the month ahead."

Not only is South Fremantle entering the finals on a nine-game winning streak, but with pretty much a full squad to select from as well and with a strong reserves side who finished on top of the ladder to earn the break in the opening week of the finals.

"Every team is the same and you firstly want to qualify and if you do, you want your best players available. We'll have close to everyone available and in good shape so we're well-placed but it's a whole new season at the same," Curley said.

"Confidence comes from repeated good behaviour and habits, and we've been pretty consistent all year. We lost three out of four in a patch in a middle but before that and after that we've been pretty consistent. 

"It's a really driven group and they drive their own standards, and that's where confidence comes from consistently doing what is expected and earning the respect of your teammates."

A major reason in South Fremantle's outstanding season has been the performances of outstanding midfield pair Tim Kelly and Haiden Schloithe with both proving dangerous when forward as well combining for 49 goals in 2017.

There's every chance the pair could fight it out for the Sandover Medal and the club's fairest and best award this year. Curley can't speak more highly of both but he also doesn’t want to forget the contribution of those teammates around them.

"The real area of growth for both of them is that they bring their teammates into the game. They get a lot of kudos for the really strong, consistent seasons that they've had and there's no doubt about that, but they've got a pretty good support cast around them," he said.

"Dylan Main has become a really solid, consistent inside midfielder and then there's Shane Hockey, Jarrod Garlett, Ryan Cook and other guys who run through there at times. They've become quite a consistent and strong outfit who really work well together."

While that South Fremantle midfield attracts plenty of attention and the forward-line that includes Blaine Johnson (53 goals), Cory Dell'Olio (49), Ben Saunders (44) and Mason Shaw (41) gets plenty of accolades, but Curley can't fault his back-line either.

He was glad to get Josh Pullman and Blayne Wilson back last Saturday against Peel with Marlion Pickett and Jason Maskos to return this Saturday to join the likes of Adam McIntosh and Steven Edwards who are having outstanding seasons.

"I think we defend better than maybe those outside give us credit for and generally a lot of your scoring comes from where you defend and how you can hit them on the counterpunch. We probably left a few opportunities out there as well, especially in the third quarter, as well," Curley said.

"We were confident in both. Blayne Wilson would have played last week if it wasn’t a bye and he's been doing some really good training and the same with Josh. 

"It will be pretty tight for selection no doubt but they will have different personnel so we'll have a look at that and how they are going. Unfortunately there will be some stiff boys but we'll just pick the team that we think gives us the best chance to win."