By Andrew Wu and Jon Pierik
Top Blue Curnow to have more surgery
Andrew Wu
Carlton superstar Charlie Curnow will have surgery for a second time this off-season in another blow to his preparation for the 2025 campaign.
The two-time Coleman medallist will go under the knife next week for what the Blues say is a “small clean-up” of his knee, while utility Alex Cincotta faces up to five months out with a hip injury.
The setback for Curnow comes about three months after he underwent reconstructive surgery to repair a troublesome ankle injury, which had dogged him over the final two months of the season.
Curnow did not take part in match simulation during the Blues’ open session at La Trobe University on Friday. The club said he left early to do rehab work at Ikon Park.
Charlie Curnow during a training session last August.Credit: Getty Images
The Blues say Curnow will return to full training in January and will be ready to play in round one, but won’t take part in their pre-season camp on the Sunshine Coast next week.
“The club has made the proactive decision to complete the minor procedure early next week, to ensure Curnow’s availability for the start of the season will not be impacted,” the Blues said in a statement.
Curnow was out for almost two years due to a series of knee injuries that started in 2019 but strung together 73 games in a row after his return in late 2021, winning back-to-back Coleman Medals in 2022 and 2023.
Cincotta will miss a significant chunk of the season due to a hip issue that will require surgery. The decision, made in consultation with a specialist, was made after the 27-year-old was unable to train last week.
Charlie Curnow.Credit: Getty Images
The Blues say Cincotta will be sidelined for “four to five months, with the aim to be available to play early in the season”.
The later end of that timeframe would have him out of action until about round 10, though he would likely need a few games in the VFL before pushing for senior selection.
Cincotta had a purple patch last season when moved from defence into a tagging role in the midfield and in attack.
The Blues expect favourite Jack Silvagni (knee), wingman Blake Acres (back) and forwards Matthew Cottrell (shoulder) and Corey Durdin (shoulder) to be back in full training by January. They did not take part in the match simulation.
Petracca injury review hits hurdle
Jon Pierik
An investigation into Melbourne’s response to Christian Petracca’s season-ending injuries has hit a hurdle, with the AFL and AFL Players Association yet to agree to terms on how it should proceed.
AFLPA chief executive Paul Marsh said in September he planned to launch an investigation into what transpired with Petracca after he was hurt in the King’s Birthday clash against Collingwood. A month later, Marsh said he had put forward a suggested review process to the AFL and who should conduct the probe, but the PA is still awaiting a response.
“We are still working through the process with the AFL,” an AFLPA spokesperson said.
Back on board: After a turbulent winter, Christian Petracca and Melbourne are focused on season 2025.Credit: Joe Armao
The AFL and Demons were contacted for comment.
The review is now unlikely to begin before next year, for the AFL industry, including clubs, the PA and league headquarters, will soon officially shut for the Christmas break.
Petracca was hospitalised after having surgery on a lacerated spleen, four broken ribs and a punctured lung after he was accidentally kneed in a marking contest by Collingwood captain Darcy Moore in the Demons’ 38-point loss. The internal injuries ended Petracca’s season.
However, it was potential mismanagement which led to a falling out between the player and the club. There were questions as to why Petracca had been allowed to return briefly to the field after he was initially hurt and left for treatment. Upon leaving the field for a second time, he was taken by ambulance to hospital.
Age columnist Caroline Wilson, speaking on Footy Classified in Sepember, said Marsh was examining all facets of the day, including the initial diagnosis of the injury, the length of time it took for the Demons to call an ambulance, why Petracca waited for hours at the Epworth Hospital before being taken to the Alfred Hospital where he had surgery.
AFL chief medical officer Dr Michael Makdissi sought clarification from Melbourne’s doctors the day after the game, and was “comfortable” with the process involved with Petracca, this masthead reported at the time.
However, Marsh previously said the PA wanted greater clarity.
“I guess we’ll see how it plays out, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t go down a path of trying to understand what happened,” Marsh told SEN in September.
“The AFL has, obviously, come out and said that they’ve cleared Melbourne, we’re trying to understand on what basis that’s the case. We are concerned about how this has played out from a player’s perspective, and I think on face value, we all should be concerned about what nearly happened here.
“What can we learn from this? We’re not baying for blood here. What we’re trying to do is understand what happened … we have to learn from these things because it’s a high-risk sport at times. I think we’ve got to make sure that the medical support that sits around the players is as good as it can possibly be.”
This masthead is not suggesting there was any wrongdoing by the Demons, only that the PA has initiated a review.
How the Demons handled Petracca’s time in hospital, and the contact between the club and player, also became a source of friction between the player and club. As a result, Petracca asked to be traded, but that request was rejected by the club.
A source aware of the Petracca issue said while the union could review the matter, it did not have official powers to investigate under AFL rules.
Petracca’s manager Robbie D’Orazio said he wasn’t across the full details of the review, but said Petracca – back in pre-season training – was “going extremely well”.
The 2021 Norm Smith medallist has spoken of the toll the injury has taken on him, including suffering from insomnia and seeing a trauma psychologist to deal with the aftermath of his injuries, revealing his partner Bella had been told he “might not make it” out of surgery because he was in a critical condition.
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