AFL draft 2015: Charlie Curnow vows to rebuild reputation after he was selected by Carlton
CARLTON recruit Charlie Curnow has vowed to make amends for his disastrous drink-driving charge, labelling it a “massive wake-up call”.
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CARLTON recruit Charlie Curnow has vowed to make amends for his disastrous drink-driving charge, labelling it a “massive wake-up call”.
Curnow slipped to pick 12 of the national draft after being arrested by Geelong police and refusing a breath test.
It took the gloss off what should have been Carlton’s finest hour, the Blues matching Essendon’s bid for Jack Silvagni and taking a pair of key pillars.
As expected, Jacob Weitering was taken with the draft’s first selection, Gippsland 200cm key forward Harry McKay was selected at pick 8, and fast midfielder David Cuningham was plucked at 23.
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McKay is a raw-boned 17-year-old who has massive upside as a forward, while Cuningham has pace to burn.
But Curnow was the story of the night, aware his dramatic mistake might have cost him his chance of joining brother Ed at Carlton.
“I have learnt a lot. It’s a massive wake-up call,’’ he said.
“There have been a fair few emotions running through my body. Obviously I made a terrible mistake and it’s something I deeply regret.
“I am going to have to deal with it and it’s my own fault. I have let a lot of people down and I am lucky Carlton had the faith to pick me up.
“I have to earn some respect back from the players and club.
“I look forward to going to the club with my brother.
“A lot of things went through my mind. I was just excited to get drafted.”
Curnow will have to be ferried to Carlton training by Ed, given he will lose his licence, but will face no further sanction from the Blues.
Coach Brendon Bolton, thrilled with building a new spine at the Blues, said he would educate rather than punish Curnow.
“Our club is the new reset Carlton and is strong on education and learning,” he said.
“We will continue to educate and teach him, it’s going to be an ongoing education.
“I have known the family for a long time and coached Ed back in my Box Hill days. They are a terrific family and Charlie is a terrific person who has made a mistake.
“We want him to get into the footy club, roll his sleeves up and work really hard.”
Jack Silvagni was taken with pick 53 after arch-rival Essendon’s cheeky bid for the father-son forward.
“(There was) no hesitation with that selection. Our members have got a smile as big as I have got at the moment,’’ Bolton said.
“It’s a great story for us. The third generation (of Silvagnis) at our footy club.
“So over the next few years we are hoping to build his body up and he can play forward and back.
“Stephen Silvagni’s team has done a fantastic job — we have now got the nucleus of a spine to build with.
“We had high draft picks and it was terrific to get guys to play key forward and some who can play both ends.”
Weitering is a 195cm key back who will play in Round 1 next year without any injury setbacks and could make a future captain.
“It’s an amazing opportunity I have just been given and I can’t thank everyone enough that helped me over journey,’’ he said.
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