In today’s AFL Briefing, your daily wrap of footy news
- Charlie Curnow was sent for scans after leaving training early on Saturday.
- The latest on St Kilda’s injured trio.
- Tiger Tom Lynch is confident he’ll be raring to go for round one.
Charlie Curnow was taking marks and kicking goals one moment. Next minute, he disappeared into the rooms not to be seen again for the day.
About 2000 Carlton fans were put through the wringer at the Blues’ open training session as they rode the fortunes of their superstar forward, whose deeds on the field will play a large part in determining whether the club’s 30-year premiership drought ends this year.
Charlie Curnow (left) goes through his paces at training, keeping tabs on Lewis Young.Credit: Penny Stephens
Word slowly filtered through the crowd at Ikon Park on Saturday morning that Curnow, the dual Coleman medallist, had left the track midway through a three-hour session, pointing to his leg.
The Blues had planned for Curnow to complete only one half of training, but that did not explain why he was not on the side of the ground completing light running or ball work.
Concerns rose when Curnow did not jog a warm-down lap with his teammates and sign autographs for the diehard fans, who had given up their Saturday morning for a rare chance to see their heroes train.
As much as Curnow is viewed as the messiah at Carlton, he could not be in two places at once. Instead, he was undergoing scans on his right knee, which he had a minor surgical procedure on in December.
By early afternoon, results of those scans, described as “precautionary” by the club, had come through: Curnow had not suffered any structural damage – and Blues fans could breathe a collective sigh of relief.
This has not been a smooth off-season for Curnow, whose preparation for the season has been interrupted by surgery on his ankle then his knee in December. He had only rejoined the main group on Monday, and remains on a modified program.
There is intrigue over his availability for the start of the season. The Blues play their first practice game on Saturday week – a match simulation against St Kilda – followed by a full dress rehearsal the following Friday against Greater Western Sydney.
Carlton star Charlie Curnow (right), with Lewis Young.Credit: Penny Stephens
There will be much focus externally on whether Curnow takes to the field for round one against last season’s wooden spooner Richmond on March 13, but the season is long, and the Blues need their champion forward ready to fire in September more than March.
A delayed start would give Curnow extra time to build conditioning for a season the Blues hope will go the distance.
Curnow did not look like a man who had missed much of the summer in the first phase of match simulation training. Moving smoothly, Curnow marked strongly, kicked a goal and set up another for his forward partner in crime Harry McKay, who has not missed a beat this preseason.
Gun midfielder Sam Walsh trained away from the main group as he recovers from a hamstring injury. Walsh was limited to running, including some higher-intensity efforts, and ball work with the Blues’ unlisted train-on squad members.
At this stage, important defender Nic Newman and tagger Alex Cincotta are the only Blues to be ruled out of the start of the premiership season.
Star midfielder Adam Cerra was given clearance to miss the session as he is getting married on Saturday. Defender Jordan Boyd also did not take part. The club said he is on a modified program.
Prized draft pick Jagga Smith impressed with his clean ball handling and agility in traffic playing in what appeared to be the senior midfield, and is shaping to be a likely debutant in round one.
Fan favourite Jack Silvagni, lining up in defence alongside Jacob Weitering and Nick Haynes, looked at home in his new role, winning plenty of the ball on the rebound.
After playing primarily as a forward and ruck since his debut in 2016, Silvagni, son of the AFL’s team- of-the-century full-back Stephen Silvagni, is being trained as a defender this pre-season.
Though the core of the senior 22 were in one team, Mitch McGovern, Jesse Motlop, George Hewett and Lachie Cowan – all established senior players – took turns wearing the white jumpers made up of predominantly seconds players.
Tempers frayed in a willing session, which saw Lewis Young and McKay involved in a scuffle after ruckman Marc Pittonet was floored in a marking contest. Pittonet was able to take his kick.
Relief for Saints over injured trio
Andrew Wu
St Kilda are breathing a sigh of relief after star forward Max King was cleared of damage to his anterior cruciate ligament.
Saints veterans Jack Sinclair (hamstring) and Mason Wood (quad) have also avoided serious damage after all leaving the track early at training on Friday, though the club is yet to determine how much training the trio will miss.
“Our football program is currently on its four-day break, so Max, Mason and Jack will rest over the next few days and we’ll reassess their resumption of training next week,” Saints football boss David Misson said.
The Saints had been optimistic King had avoided an ACL injury but needed further assessment on Saturday before they could make a conclusive diagnosis.
There was sensitivity around King’s condition in the hours after he left the track for scans, due to his long history with serious knee injuries. King ruptured the ACL in his right knee in his draft year of 2018, missing the entire 2019 campaign. His 2024 season was ended in June after hurting the posterior cruciate ligament in his other knee.
Lynch on track for round one despite ‘accident’
Roy Ward
Richmond star Tom Lynch admits he can’t take a trick but is confident he will be there for round one when the Tigers open their season against Carlton, with the star forward set to return to full-contact training after a recent concussion.
The 32-year-old two-time premiership forward has played only one game since last March and just eight in the past two seasons after hamstring issues forced him off the field.
But Lynch said he had trained well throughout the pre-season until taking the accidental knock at training last week which put him back into the concussion protocols.
Tom Lynch training in 2024.Credit: Justin McManus
“I’ve recovered really well from it,” Lynch said at an event at Carlsberg Beach Club Frankston on Saturday. “It’s the first real heavy knock I’ve had and the last couple of days I’ve been back into the running and things like that.”
Lynch revealed his collision was with Richmond player development staffer Joel Garner who also plays and coaches in the club’s VFL side.
“He’s meant to be looking after us, not giving us concussions,” Lynch said with a laugh. “It was just an accident, one of those things where I caught him full bore as I was going for a ground ball. That’s footy.”
Lynch, who has kicked 462 goals from 220 games, aims to be on field when the Tigers play Collingwood in a community series clash on February 26, and firmly has his sights on round one.
“I’m not going to miss any games or things like that – later in the week I will be doing full contact,” Lynch said. “I had a really good January. I’ve done everything.”
Lynch said top draft pick Sam Lalor has impressed during pre-season as has young defender Luke Trainor.
“There has been a fair bit of change, and we have some young guys and they look pretty good,” Lynch said.
“There will be opportunities for them to play pretty early. Sam Lalor has impressed in the last couple of weeks since the Christmas break. It’s exciting to be around a young group and try and help them as much as I can.”
Meanwhile, Collingwood recruit Dan Houston says he is making a smooth transition as a member of the Magpies’ halfback line.
Houston returned home to Victoria to join the Magpies after 168 games with Port Adelaide and despite being a seasoned AFL player, he still feels surprised at how far-reaching Collingwood’s support is.
“Collingwood is a big club, a lot bigger than I thought,” Houston said.
“There are definitely a lot of Collingwood fans and they’ve been pretty warm with how they have approached me and taken me in. It’s been good to be back home with my family as well.”
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