Carlton cult figure glad superstar out the door as falling out revealed

Carlton cult hero Brendan Fevola says he is glad star forward Charlie Curnow is leaving, alluding to a relationship breakdown.

Brendan Fevola and Charlie Curnow.

Brendan Fevola says he is glad Charlie Curnow has one foot out the door at Carlton.

The former Coleman Medallist on Wednesday appeared to suggest Curnow had a “cry” after being pulled aside by coach Michael Voss this year.

After another underwhelming season for the Blues, Curnow last month informed the club he wants to be traded to Geelong or Sydney, despite having four more years to run on a rich contract.

That trade saga appears to be going down to the wire after the Blues rejected offers from the Cats and Swans this week.

Curnow had a hot and cold season where he kicked just 32 goals before undergoing knee surgery which ended his 2025 campaign.

Fevola has now poured fuel on a burning rumour there was friction between Curnow and Voss with reports emerging in July that last year’s league-leading goal kicker wanted to leave.

Voss at the time insisted Curnow would be staying with the club and was just as adamant when asked about Curnow’s trade request last month.

Brendan Fevola and Charlie Curnow.

Carlton has on several occasions insisted the relationship between Curnow and Voss is intact despite suggestions the star forward is not entirely happy at the club.

Fevola stirred the pot when speaking on The Fox’s Fifi, Fev & Nick breakfast show.

“I’m actually glad he’s getting traded,” Fevola said on Fox 101.9.

Mimicking a crying baby, Fevola went on to say: “I think Charlie had a bit of a disagreement with the coach. Because Vossy is hard. And I think he gave him a talking to and he didn’t like it. So Waah. I’m out.”

Fevola went on to defend trade requests that have been made by players with long term contracts, including Zach Merrett and Christian Petracca.

“It’s the new woke,” he said.

“If you look at Sydney, the two players that they offered up (for Curnow). They’re both contracted, and Sydney went to them and said you’re out. We’re getting him (Curnow) in. And they didn’t want to leave.

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“Clubs don’t have any loyalty to the player. If they can get something better than they’ll better it. So the player shouldn’t have the loyalty to the club. It’s a business.”

Curnow toured the Swans facilities at the SCG on Monday before the club submitted an offer to Carlton on Tuesday.

That offer was knocked back by the Blues on Wednesday morning.

According to reports that offer was Pick 11, a 2026 first-round pick, Will Hayward and Ollie Florent to Carlton, in exchange for Curnow and Pick 22.

The breakdown in negotiations seems to be around that Pick 22 – the free agency compensation selection they received for losing Jack Silvagni to St Kilda.

Curnow is contracted until the end of 2029 but his deal could be extended by another year as the Swans attempt to massage his multi-year contract into the club’s salary cap.

Curnow last week reportedly told Carlton his preference was a move to the Cats.

However, Carlton’s offer of three first-round picks was thrown back in the club’s face.

AFL legend Gerard Healy told Fox Footy the Swans have gone too big as talks continue over the likelihood of pick 22 coming back in return.

There remains a possibility that the Blues will refuse to release Curnow from his contract if the Cats and Swans fail to make a tempting offer.

Voss said last month: “There has been a lot of commentary (on Curnow), but we are pretty clear where it stands. “That is that he will be playing for Carlton in 2026.

“So I can probably save a coffee for other coaches and confirm that he will be here. He’s really important to us.

“It is acknowledged among all the boys that we have had a challenging year.

“Charlie himself has had a really challenging year. He probably didn’t get going in the pre-season for one reason or another, a lot of that out of his control.”

Brad Lloyd, who recently left his role as Carlton footy manager, provided an opposing theory on Tuesday when he suggested there were not any issues between Voss and Curnow.

Lloyd, who spent seven seasons inside the Blues football department, told SEN radio he was surprised to heat about Curnow’s trade request.

Brendan Fevola is dropping bombs from down town.

He said a sea change to somewhere outside the so-called Melbourne “bubble” was likely the most significant motivating factor.

“In the end, Carlton have got that leverage that he is contracted and worst-case scenario, if things fall over, he is playing for Carlton, which a lot of people will be excited about,” Lloyd said.

“Vossy has great relationships with the players. There has never been a conversation where I haven’t felt comfortable about the way Vossy’s going about it.

“I would think that this is more of a lifestyle decision, without speaking to Charlie, rather than thinking there was a rift between he and Michael Voss.”

In a candid speech at Carlton’s best and fairest night, Voss raised eyebrows when saying the Blues had “culturally defeated” themselves this season, vowing to come back better than ever next year.

“Right now, we are not a very resilient football club,” Voss said.

“This club is powerful if we choose it to be, but the fight must be out there, not in here.

“My greatest lesson is this, chasing excellence can’t come at the expense of enjoying the journey.”

Carlton has also lost Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni heading into 2026.