Fitting debut as Bulldogs coach for Curley against FalconsThursday, March 19, 2015 - 6:01 PM - by Chris Pike

TODD Curley has never previously been involved in any WAFL club bar West Perth so it's only fitting that his debut as South Fremantle coach this Friday night at Fremantle Oval comes against the Falcons.

Curley did play in the AFL with both Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs, but when it comes to the WAFL he played his entire career with West Perth and his first stint as a senior coach was also with the Falcons.

Now after some time away from football for the first time in more than two decades following a stint as assistant coach with the Fremantle Dockers, Curley is returning to senior coaching ranks in the WAFL and this time he has taken over at South Fremantle.

Curley played 148 matches with West Perth including premierships in 1995 and 2003 before ending his career as captain up until he retired following the 2005 season, and then he had a stint as senior coach between 2006-08 during which time he guided the Falcons to two finals series.

He now is back involved at WAFL level and has taken over the helm of a South Fremantle team that hasn’t played finals since 2011, but has a tremendous amount of talent remaining on board, who have returned and who have joined ahead of the 2015 season.

South Fremantle open the WAFL season this Friday night against West Perth at Fremantle Oval and Curley is looking forward to taking on his old side in his first official game in red and white colours.

"I still obviously have a lot of relationships with people at West Perth, but in terms of the coaching staff and playing group it's probably changed a fair bit in the five years or so since I've been there," Curley said.

"I love the club as a past player and coach, but I'm at South Fremantle now and that's where my heart is. We are really keen to bounce into the season with a really positive start and it probably doesn’t matter who we are playing.

"I think the thing you learn about footy clubs is that generally they have the same sort of people and interests as each other, and you see once you get inside them that they are all good people.

"I always admired South Fremantle from the outside as an opposition player and coach, and now to get the opportunity at a traditional club it's been fantastic. The players have been really keen to learn and the club have been really supportive so I have enjoyed it to this point."

Curley is happy with South Fremantle's preparations ahead of the 2015 season and feels they have done all they could during the pre-season, but he also knows you don't get to know all the answers until Round 1 gets underway.

While he is confident the Bulldogs have done enough to improve in 2015, he knows West Perth has built a squad that it hopes can be a contender this season as well so it's going to be no easy task on Friday night.

"Hopefully we get a lot of people here on Friday night. The weather is still nice and warm so hopefully we get a big crowd here. West Perth are a very good side, they started their pre-season well and have some really good players. We will need to come to play if we are going to compete, and that will be our aim," he said.

"It certainly feels like it has gone quickly. It's been fantastic and the club has been super in their support of me, and the players have been fantastic as well. It's a new club for me and there's so many new names and faces and personalities to get to know, but we are as prepared as we can be.

"With a week to go I think the players are just as excited as everyone and pre-season is all about getting ready for Round 1, and now it's only a week away."

South Fremantle was able to maintain the majority of its playing squad from last year for the 2015 season while also welcoming back Adam Carter, Cory Dell'Olio and Kyle Hams, and signing Blayne Wilson and Chris Luff.

Despite a couple of niggling injuries that might still linger for Round 1, Curley is happy to have just about a full squad to choose from for the game against West Perth and he couldn’t be happier with the group he has been able to pull together over summer.

"The aim for everyone is to have everyone available for Round 1 so we will be pretty close to that. Touchwood almost everyone will be available to put their hand up. That's great and exciting for us," Curley said.

"Our main focus was to get South Fremantle people back and we've done that really well, and then the bonus was if there was someone who could come in and add to the group who isn’t there then we will go after them.

"We were lucky that Blayne became available and he has a South Fremantle link to him as well. We're really pleased, we think we are as prepared as can be and we are looking forward to next week."