Bulldogs swing axe to arrest mini-slump

South Fremantle coach Todd Curley has dumped six players for today’s clash with East Fremantle at Fremantle Oval.

Craig White, Dylan Ross, Anthony Collica, Brendan Verrier, Matthew Gundry and John Sgherza paid a hefty price for the club’s 89-point loss to Subiaco in the last round.

The Bulldogs trailed by one point at the first change, only to be outscored by 20 goals to six in the final three quarters in a listless display.

It came seven days after South Fremantle’s first loss of the season, Swan Districts ending their unbeaten run of three games against West Perth, Perth and Claremont.

Curley, in his first season at the helm of the Bulldogs, said it was time for a shake-up for the players.

He conceded the match committee made mistakes when picking the side to play Subiaco.

“We probably didn’t get it right at selection, to be honest,” he said. “We thought we were a bit one-paced so we were pretty keen to get some more run and speed back into the side to improve our pressure.

“I guess that was the main focus and obviously it was a disappointing performance the week before against Swannies.

“We backed the majority of that group to go again.”

Curley said it was also reward for the club’s reserves side, the only unbeaten team after the first five rounds.

“The twos have been in really good form,” he said.

“There have been a lot of players pressing and they deserve an opportunity.”

Former Peel defender Chris Luff was called in to the side to bolster a defence which leaked 24 goals against Subiaco.

Small forward Jacob Dragovich was promoted to make his league debut and Adam Carter, Traye Bennell, Shaun Bewick and Simon Panizza were also added to the 22 that lost to Subiaco.

Curley said Dragovich had been rewarded for consistent form in the reserves.

“Jacob has been in the best players in the reserves probably four out of the five and has been close for a couple of weeks,” he said. “We think he will give us some excitement.

“He can play forward or midfield and give us some speed.”

Curley said he was looking forward to his first Fremantle derby as coach because they always seemed to be really good games, irrespective of where the teams were on the ladder.

“They are probably a bit more physical, a bit tighter and the form seems to go out the window leading in,” he said.

Rival coach Steve Malaxos made no changes, sticking with the same 22 that beat Swans by 31 points at Steel Blue Oval on April 18.

Reliable defender Sam Read was included in the team despite taking no further part after being concussed in the first quarter against Swans.