Charlie Curnow signs with Carlton until 2023 but Patrick Cripps to wait on new deal
CARLTON has secured the prized signature of Charlie Curnow on a long-term deal but an extension for Patrick Cripps is a long way off as the midfielder wants to consider a few things before putting pen to paper.
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CARLTON has announced the re-signing of gun young forward Charlie Curnow but the optimism around Patrick Cripps signing an extension soon appear premature.
Curnow on Thursday agreed to a four-year extension, which secures him until the end of the 2023 season.
It’s been reported it’s about $800,000 a year, which would almost certainly make him the highest-paid 21-year-old in the AFL.
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Cripps, 23, is contracted until the end of the 2019 and there have been discussions about extending him for a further two years.
But the Herald Sun understands Cripps is not yet ready to commit to the Blues beyond his existing contract.
While the Blues are confident of keeping Cripps and would like to trump his contract extension as soon as possible, it’s understood Cripps would like to see how the trade and free agency period plays out at the Blues at the end of the season.
Carlton list manager Stephen Silvagni indicated on Thursday an announcement was forthcoming on Cripps.
“We’re in a good spot,’’ Silvagni said.
“They’re very close (but) right at the minute, nothing’s been signed off, so until you’ve got a signature, you can probably say they haven’t agreed.’’
Cripps’ management group plans to meet Silvagni in the next fortnight.
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Curnow’s signature will please Blues fans, who see Curnow and Cripps as the two players the club has set about building around.
The Blues are also confident skipper Marc Murphy, who is a free agent at the end of the year, will recommit to the Blues.
Although he has kicked just 41 goals in 37 matches, Curnow is the beacon of hope for supporters.
“I’m very thankful to the club for the opportunity to extend my contract for a further four years,” Curnow said in a statement on Thursday night.
“It was never an option to go anywhere else, the club is basically an extension of my family and I wanted to repay the faith they have shown in me since I arrived at the end of 2015.
“I really believe in where our football program is heading.
“We are a very close-knit playing group and we are driven to get this club back to where it belongs so I’m rapt to be staying around and helping us get there.”
Coach Brendon Bolton said: “We see his signing as a clear show of faith in the club’s direction and clearly, a player of Charlie’s talent is a key part of our long-term plans.
“He is a popular member of our playing group and a terrific young man with a level head on his shoulders and we know there is a big future ahead for him with his impressive approach to hard work and continued improvement as a developing key forward.’’
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