By Andrew Wu
Star Carlton forward Charlie Curnow underwent an ankle reconstruction that is likely to prevent him from taking part in full training at the start of the Blues’ pre-season.
Curnow went under the knife in September and revealed more details of that procedure at an appearance alongside Western Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli to raise funds for Ronald McDonald House Charities on Saturday.
Charlie Curnow has outlined the extent of his ankle surgery.Credit: Getty Images
An ankle reconstruction is more serious than the ankle surgery players typically undergo in the post-season but is not expected to drastically affect Curnow’s preparation for next year.
Curnow missed the last three games of the Blues’ season – including their defeat in the elimination final to eventual premiers Brisbane Lions – due to the injury. He had been carrying the ailment since early July before aggravating it in round 22 against Hawthorn.
One of several Blues who has been training at the club during their leave period, Curnow has been taking part in running and light skill drills at Ikon Park. He has been filmed on the club’s social media channels working in the gym without any visible taping around his ankle.
“It’s just a reco of my ankle – a bit of a clean-up,” Curnow said. “[I’m] back running and training at the club, ready to go.
“We’ve had a lot of the boys in there roaring around. You hear a lot of this, everyone’s looking amazing at the moment, as they do in pre-season.
The 2024 season ended in frustration for Marcus Bontempelli, Luke Beveridge, and their Western Bulldogs.Credit: AFL Photos
“I’ll push for the modified [training program] but I think they’ll be wanting me to go full tilt. It’s all feeling great.”
Sports physician Dr Peter Larkins said ankle reconstructions were not as serious as reconstructive surgery on shoulders and knees – the latter generally requiring a 12-month recovery period.
Marcus Bontempelli and Charlie Curnow at a McDonald’s appearance on Saturday.Credit: The Age
“If he had it done [at the] end of September, you’ve got October, November committed to non-running but by December you should be doing some running, and [in] January you’re back to normal running would be my prediction,” Larkins said.
“When they have it done at the end of [the] season, the club wants them to be cherry ripe by February, March, so there’s no point smashing yourself in December.”
For Bontempelli, a landmark year looms for both player and club – the Dogs are marking their centenary in the V/AFL, Bontempelli is in the final year of his contract and so too is coach Luke Beveridge.
“It’s an important season for us all,” Bontempelli said. “[After] not finishing last year the way we wanted to, there were some great nuggets of gold out of the back end of the season. We’d love not to put ourselves in that position again.
“There’s certainly a responsibility for us as players to do everything we can to make sure our season starts in the right direction. That will be our focus most of the pre-season.”
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