Curra cements title shot

CURRA Swans coach Jamie Fogg has watched as Michael Maltby has come to truly appreciate he belongs at the top.

Fogg and the rest of his squad knew it, and in the AFL Townsville semi-final triumph over Thuringowa he proved it to himself.

Maltby’s intensity on the Sherrin in the opening quarter set the tone for the defending champions to march away from the Bulldogs, finishing 12.8 (80) to 3.6 (24) victors in what their coach said was “the most clinical four quarters they have put in” this season.

Fogg said Maltby had been largely quiet throughout the campaign, but over the past few weeks he had seen him grow from dormant talent to finals X-factor.

He said with a squad of “natural footballers”, all he needed to do was instil that confidence within each player, and from there the results would follow.

“I think he’s just been slowly building his confidence to know he belongs in this team,” Fogg said.

“He’s played in the ressies last year, had a few injuries and just couldn’t crack the seniors enough.

“Over the last few weeks he’s just built that confidence and I think he just realises he belongs in this group and he was outstanding early.

“I think it’s the players around him as well giving him that confidence. If there are 22 guys clicking and syncing on the same page, they just have to play that role I’ve asked of them.

“It’s instilling confidence in your group that they’ve put themselves in this position, it’s not me. They’ve done the hard yards, I just have to get them in the right mindset.”

Curra was boosted by the return of Adam Mcdonald, who had not been sighted since breaking his fibula in round 12.

Southeast Queensland’s Covid-19 outbreak meant he did not leave Townsville for work as he normally did, instead remaining out of Brisbane with his partner and children back home.

The victory sent Curra straight into the grand final in two weeks for a shot at backto-back flags, where it will await its final opponent to be determined.

After the Hermit Park Tigers convincingly defeated University Hawks in the elimination final, they will now face the Bulldogs to book the last grand final spot.

In this year’s finals series, Fogg was coaching against fellow mentors who he too played against and alongside throughout his days.

Bulldogs mentor Darren Lange, Tigers leader Darren Andrews and Hawks maestro Michael Trigg are all former teammates and rivals of Fogg’s, adding extra spice to the finals series.

After claiming a win in his and Lange’s maiden finals clash as coaches, Fogg said once the opening buzzer sounded, friendships were forgotten for a period.

“Once you cross the white line you’re not really their mate, it’s another coach,” Fogg said.

“At the end of the day, it’s the footballers on the ground doing all the work. We’re just the chessmen off to the side making the moves.”