AFL 2021: Carlton forward Charlie Curnow shines in first match since knee injury

With the VFL called off, Charlie Curnow made his long-awaited return in a match simulation — and the signs have the Blues excited about his prospects.

Essendon is hopeful Dyson Heppell will be back to lead its finals charge. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

Carlton star Charlie Curnow has breezed through his first serious hitout in two years after playing in a combined match simulation contest on Sunday.

Curnow played large parts of the first three quarters and a few minutes in the last term in a game where AFL clubs Collingwood, Carlton, Hawthorn and Melbourne all supplied players.

The Blues were ecstatic that Curnow was able to cover the ground so well and kick a nice goal and also pull up without any soreness after his continued knee issues.

He has not played AFL football since Round 15, 2019 amid a series of setbacks that at one stage plunged his career into jeopardy.

The Blues had planned to play him for a half in a VFL contest against Collingwood but that game was cancelled amid the Victorian Covid lockdown.

The AFL gave permission for the four clubs to play that match simulation contest, with Victorian clubs North Melbourne and Essendon also part of a match simulation contest in Queensland on Saturday.

The Blues will assess Curnow’s recovery and plot his next path in coming days, hoping to build up his game time whether he plays VFL or another match simulation if the state remains in lockdown.

Entering the contest they had no preordained plan for how many games he played before an AFL return, but he is destined to miss brother Ed Curnow’s 200th game for Carlton next week.

TEAGUE SAYS CURNOW WANTS TO PLAY IN 2021

Russell Gould

Carlton coach David Teague says Charlie Curnow wants to make it back to the AFL team this season as the star young forward prepares for his first game in over two years.

Curnow, 24 has not played a game since Round 15, 2019, following multiple surgeries and injury setbacks that have continually delayed his return to football.

But he has been training fully for several weeks, and Teague said Curnow was ready to play in the VFL and, pending his body holding up, could return to the AFL before this season finishes.

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Charlie Curnow is hopeful of making a long-awaited return this year.

“That’s his plan,” Teague said on Thursday.

“That will come down to form. We will build him up, we won’t risk him obviously. His health and him as a person is the most important priority for us.

“If his form and his body are handling the load no worries, then absolutely we would love to get him out there.”

Teammate Jacob Weitering said Curnow was looking “unbelievable” in training, and track watchers think he’s moving better than before his horror run of injuries.

Teague said Curnow, who has played 58 games since his 2016 debut, had been training well, but his minutes would still be monitored in his comeback game.

“He won’t play the whole game, we are going to build him up. He’ll play probably 60-70 minutes at this stage,” Teague said.

“I know he’s excited, the boys are excited to see him out there. I think our fans will be excited. He’s really looking forward to it and we can’t wait to see him get out there and have some fun.”

While Curnow will return via the VFL, former captain Marc Murphy, who needs to play four more games to reach 300, is still batting a calf issue.