New Swan Charlie Curnow reveals why he sought a trade away from Carlton

New Swan Charlie Curnow maintains he didn’t seek a move from Carlton until after their disastrous 2025 season, saying he made a “personal decision” with one eye on an eventual retirement from footy.

Charlie Curnow says his move to Sydney was centred around a chase for success and a lifestyle change admitting he thinks he has “five years” left in the game.

The superstar forward was freed of his monster contract at Carlton, which had him locked away until 2029, when the Swans offered up one of the AFL’s biggest-ever trade bounties.

Curnow, 28, maintains he had not made a decision to move away from Ikon Park during the tumultuous campaign, instead reaching a decision to seek a trade during post-season discussions with club officials.

Curnow endured a difficult personal season, kicking his lowest tally of goals since 2021 with just 32 majors.

Charlie Curnow is a Swan after one of the biggest trades ever. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

He said his constant battle with his body throughout his career has him casting one eye on retirement.

“I’ve only got, maybe four or five years left, so I went on a decision for myself and a personal decision,” he said.

“I thought the best thing was to move forward and try to change it up.

“After the season had finished, then I reached out to my manager.

“Obviously you hear things and other clubs are hovering because that’s just the nature of the game and looking at the way the AFL is moving forward.

“I think this will become quite common, obviously we’ve seen a bit more of it in this trade period.

“I’m just very lucky that Paul and Robbie got the job done, and so did Carlton and the Swans.”

Carlton finally dealt Curnow to Sydney, receiving forward Will Hayward and three first-round selections in exchange for the star forward and three second-round picks.

But the deal wasn’t struck until 7.28pm on Wednesday night, just two minutes before the deadline.

Curnow was adamant he did not reach a decision to leave the Blues until after the season. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Curnow admitted he would have found it difficult to return to Carlton as a frantic deadline-day trade broke him free of his Blues contract.

“It would (be hard to return to Carlton), I’d be lying if I said it wouldn’t,” he said.

“If you put yourself out there like that you probably want to get it done in the end, instead having to go through it all again next year.

“It was a long season, it was a tough season. There probably wasn’t a point where I went: ‘damn I need to get out of here’. It was kind of gradual.

“We discussed after the season what it might look like going forward.

“I had to have a few good conversations with him (Michael Voss) at the end of the season.

“If I want to get traded, you have to do that – I’m not going to go behind his back and start putting myself out there.”

Originally published as New Swan Charlie Curnow reveals why he sought a trade away from Carlton