The reason why Charlie Curnow slid to No.12 in the 2015 national draft

IT still doesn’t make sense how eight clubs overlooked Charlie Curnow in the 2015 national draft and in years to come it will be up there with Pavlich-Fiora as a draft shocker.

Charlie Curnow slid to No.12 in the 2015 draft. Picture: Michael Klein

IN years to come it will be up there with Pavlich-Fiora as a draft shocker that still doesn’t make sense.

How was Charlie Curnow the sixth tall chosen in the 2015 national draft?

History will show Curnow was taken as the No.12 pick that draft, eight clubs overlooking him — including Carlton and Melbourne twice each.

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He looks the best key forward of the next generation, fresh from a star turn against Collingwood on Sunday.

The answer?

A bit of immaturity, only hints of magic in his TAC Cup year and a poorly timed drink-drive charge days before the national draft.

Geelong Falcons talent manager Michael Turner always believed he could be the best player in that draft given his athletic gifts and football nous.

As is turned out, Carlton selected Jacob Weitering (No.1) and Harry McKay (Pick 10), Brisbane Josh Schache (Pick 2), Essendon Aaron Francis (Pick 6), and Melbourne Sam Weideman (Pick 9).

Five other talls were drafted ahead of Charlie Curnow. Picture: AAP

Callum Mills (Pick 3) is a Rising Star winner and Clayton Oliver (Pick 4) is a budding superstar, but Curnow and Oliver will vie for honours in that draft.

“It’s always easy to judge things in retrospect,” former Cats star Turner.

“My wife taught him in Grade 4 at Torquay primary school, so I have known him for a long time.

“You could say he was a little immature, very tall but a little awkward.

“(Brother) Ed came through the program and then when Charlie came through and the AFL recruiters asked about players, I would alert them to the fact Charlie was potentially a No.1 draft pick.

“As it turned out by the end of the year Weitering deserved it. He was the best defender and Carlton needed him. He was very mature and professional.

“Charlie was a fantastic athlete but he was a little raw and immature and maybe there were some doubts on him.

“But when you talked to recruiters you would say I know Weitering is going at No.1 but I am still telling you Curnow has the potential to be No.1.”

Only days before the national draft he was stopped by police in the early hours and refused a breath test, his licence eventually suspended for two years.

By that stage Carlton knew the integrity of his family and were not swayed, but to be truthful other talls had less risk attached to them.

Charlie Curnow soars above Tom Langdon to take a spectacular mark against Collingwood last week. Picture: AFL Media

Schache had set a goals record in the Under 18 championships, Weideman was a raging bull, Weitering was Mr Consistency

Carlton had secured rock-solid Weitering and a two-metre tall in McKay, able to take a risk with the third tall knowing his massive upside.

“He had played well in a very good side and Vic Country won the championships but he probably played a cameo role,” Turner said.

“He was a third tall, he wasn’t dominating games, but he was doing special things.”

On Sunday amid two spectacular marks his workrate meant he was always in the game, a far cry from those Under-18 days.

“Recruiters don’t want to make mistakes. It’s all about risk management. They thought he had put in cameos and was a good athlete,’ Turner said.

“But was he hard enough to be an AFL player, is he a bit immature?

“Sometimes they have to look at the negative rather than the upside. The (drink-drive incident) was very isolated.

“Mum and dad are part of a very Christian family and maybe some people thought he was off the rails, but if you knew the kid it was a blip on the radar.

“His parents were mortified and it maybe it was just the kick up the arse he needed.”