By Sam McClure
Was it a sprinkler head? Was it a divot? Was it something else? The truth is, we may never know.
But whatever it was, it derailed Carlton’s season.
It was Saturday, July 6, and the Blues turned up to western Sydney full of confidence, fresh from a 10-goal belting of old rivals Richmond and sitting second on the ladder, a game and a half inside the top four.
Charlie Curnow competing against GWS defender Jack Buckley back in round 17.Credit: AFL Photos
But what transpired over the next four hours would have an impact on the rest of their season.
Half an hour before the bounce, superstar Coleman Medal leader Charlie Curnow lost his footing in the pre-game warm-up and clutched his ankle during a run through.
Two teammates saw it, but thought little of the severity of the incident. Curnow winced but carried on.
He played through pain for the game and for the first 32 minutes, Curnow’s lack of impact on the contest didn’t matter.
The Blues kicked eight of the first 10 goals and looked to be cruising to another victory.
A senior Blues delegate at the ground could even be heard joking about booking in club favourite Robbie Williams for September’s grand final entertainment.
You have to feel for him; it was hard to see what was coming.
The Giants would kick 12 of the next 14 goals, the Blues would lose eight of their next 10 games and the club would persist with playing Curnow.
Curnow played in the next five games, never really looking like the same player. He kicked 11 goals in those five contests, but if you remove the North Melbourne match, he kicked just seven in four games and was ruled out of the club’s demoralising elimination final loss to the Brisbane Lions.
A week and a half after their win over the Blues, the Giants received calls from journalists about Curnow and whether his ankle concern related to a rogue sprinkler head.
It wouldn’t be the first time a stadium in NSW had been at the centre of an injury controversy. In 2015 Hawk Jarryd Roughead escaped with just minor injuries after sliding over exposed bolts at what is now Accor Stadium.
Engie Stadium management said this week that while it did have a sprinkler system built into the surface, its infrastructure was consistent with many global and domestic standards.
Before being asked about the sprinkler head question by the Giants, stadium management had not received reports of any problems from the Carlton game.
Curnow’s injury against Hawthorn in round 22 ended his season.Credit: Getty Images
“Sydney Showground did not receive any reports of an injury or issue with a sprinkler head during or after the game by the club, AFL manager, AFL, or our own groundstaff,” a statement provided to The Scoop this week read.
“The stadium’s sprinkler system does not differ to any other stadium, the sprinkler heads retract and are covered with a rubber crumb before every game. This is standard practice under AFL guidelines. They are also checked before every training session and game.”
Curnow told the club and members of his team that the injury occurred in a pothole, according to two sources close to the Blues star who didn’t want to speak about someone else’s injury.
Carlton confirmed to this column this week that Curnow initially injured his ankle in the warm-up prior to the GWS game and that the club continued to manage his injury.
But the club wouldn’t comment on how the injury occurred.
Things went from bad to worse for the Blues during their round-22 drubbing against Hawthorn. Midway through the game, Curnow – who had mustered just two disposals – limped off with an ankle injury.
Curnow is one of many Carlton players who had injury-interrupted 2024 seasons.
This masthead broke the news in early August that Carlton fitness boss Andrew Russell, who joined the Blues from Hawthorn at the end of 2018, was departing at season’s end.
The club then announced last week that long-time Sydney fitness boss Rob Inness was set to join as the Blues’ new head of high performance.
Inness will begin with Carlton once the Swans’ finals campaign is complete.
“There are few in the AFL who are as highly credentialed and held in the regard that Rob is, so we are delighted he has committed to come to Carlton and be part of what we are looking to build on in the coming years,” Blues football boss Brad Lloyd said.
Curnow trained strongly last Saturday in a bid to be ready for a semi-final had his teammates beaten the Lions in Brisbane later that evening.
The club said it was assessing if Curnow’s ankle needed surgery in the off-season.
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