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Geelong coach Chris Scott said Charlie Curnow’s future is in his hands after Cats link

Charlie Curnow has been linked to several clubs, including Geelong, where the star forward grew up. And Cats coach Chris Scott has responded.

Geelong coach Chris Scott says Charlie Curnow is a contracted player and his future is in his hands after the Cats were linked to the Carlton goalkicker.

A report this week said Curnow, 28, is open to playing with Gold Coast, Sydney and Geelong, where the Torquay product grew up as a graduate of the Geelong Falcons.

But the dual Coleman medallist declared on Thursday night after the Blues’ loss to Hawthorn that he will be, “Playing at Carlton next year”, and is, “Pretty much just put all my time into playing footy for this club this year and into future years.”

Scott did not refute the link to Curnow but said the ball is in the Blues star’s court.

Charlie Curnow at Jan Juc beach ahead of the 2019 AFL draft. Picture: Nigel Hallett
Charlie Curnow at Jan Juc beach ahead of the 2019 AFL draft. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“I kind of get the logical connection there (between Curnow and Geelong) and the other part that is obvious as well, is every club would be open to the very best players in the competition – which he’s been over the journey,” Scott said.

“My understanding is he is contracted until 2029, it’s not really our call to make.

“More than I think you might realise, even when a player does end up moving to a club, the destination club actually plays a bit of a back seat to it all because the player himself has a big say and the club he is contracted to has a big say as well.

“I don’t think other clubs, the Gold Coast, I think Sydney were mentioned as well, have much power in this situation. So the most prudent thing to do, is to do nothing.”

Scott backed his recruiting and list management team, led by veteran scout Stephen Wells and football boss Andrew Mackie, to get the job done as he takes a back seat.

He noted a sharp increase in trade news in recent weeks.

Charlie Curnow celebrates a goal against Carlton. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images
Charlie Curnow celebrates a goal against Carlton. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

“It’s clear to me that it’s started, we’re into that mode now where it’s going to be a lot of headlines and there’s going to be a lot of rumours and a lot of innuendo,” Scott said.

“Most of them won’t be true, some of them will have a skerrick of truth, but it’ll be really hard to get done. We’ll just try to keep focused on what we’re doing.

“It’s a real pleasure, to be frank to be part of a club that has such a strong team in that area of us. I have so much confidence in them, so it allows you to do what you need to do at this point in the season, knowing that all that work is being done in the background by others.

“But my involvement in that stuff’s actually quite limited in late July.”

Originally published as Geelong coach Chris Scott said Charlie Curnow’s future is in his hands after Cats link

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Original URL: https://www.ntnews.com.au/sport/afl/geelong-coach-chris-scott-said-charlie-curnows-future-is-in-his-hands-after-cats-link/news-story/fae9fc45cf0c9cf60ab7b520463ae6a6