By Andrew Wu and Jon Pierik
Carlton have axed five players, including Jack Martin, as they revealed spearhead Charlie Curnow will undergo surgery on the ankle injury that derailed his finals campaign.
After three days of exit meetings, the Blues said on Friday that David Cuningham, Caleb Marchbank, Martin, Alex Mirkov and Dom Akuei would depart the club, as the Blues lose patience with an injury-hit list.
Charlie Curnow, pictured in the game against Hawthorn in August, will have surgery on his injured ankle.Credit: Getty Images
They also confirmed Curnow would go under the knife to repair the ankle he first damaged in the warm-up against Greater Western Sydney over two months ago in round 17.
Martin, 29, is the biggest name to leave the club, having had his career stalled by soft-tissue injuries. He managed 54 games for the Blues, including just three this year, having joined on a heavily front-ended, five-year contract ahead of the 2020 campaign.
He is out of contract but not a free agent because he delisted himself from Gold Coast. The silky half-forward had the ability to be a match winner, but could not get his body right. This masthead has contacted his management for comment.
Cuningham joined the Blues with pick No.23 in the 2015 national draft but managed only 58 games in nine seasons, largely because of injury.
Marchbank, the No.6 draft pick in 2014 by Greater Western Sydney, also had injury issues in his eight seasons at Ikon Park. He managed only 56 games for the Blues.
Akuei, a category B rookie and product of the Carlton academy, and Mirkov, a mid-season rookie pick in 2021, did not play senior football.
Carlton head of list management Nick Austin said Martin, Marchbank and Cuningham had battled the best they could through injuries.
“David and Caleb have persevered through adversity throughout their extended careers at Carlton. Their resolve to continue to front up and give themselves every chance to overcome each challenge is a testament to them and will hold them in good stead with whatever the step is that they choose to take,” Austin said.
On the move: Jack Martin has left Princes Park.Credit: AFL Photos
“Jack also showed a resilient mindset through his five seasons and has made some lasting friendships at the football club, while Alex and Dom brought great energy around the club over their time with us, each earning their opportunity to be part of an AFL program via unique pathways.”
Curnow played through the injury only to roll the ankle four weeks later against Collingwood and further aggravate the issue the following round against Hawthorn.
He did not play again, missing the last two rounds of the home and away season and the Blues’ elimination final defeat against the Brisbane Lions last week.
The Blues said Curnow will have a clearer indication of his rehabilitation over the off-season, but “is expected to begin to integrate back into the training program when pre-season resumes in December”.
The Blues also said fellow forward Corey Durdin would have shoulder surgery, and “is expected to build into contact training by January”. Durdin carried the injury through the final month of the campaign.
Blues coach Michael Voss had said last week he was confident Curnow would have been available to play in the semi-final if the club had advanced.
The Blues had been six points clear in second spot entering the game against the Giants, but won just two of their final eight home and away games to limp into September in eighth place.
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