AFL 2023: Charlie Curnow on his nine-goal haul vs West Coast, Tom De Koning struggles in VFL

Charlie Curnow just missed out on becoming the first Blue since 1995 to kick 10 goals in a game, but he says he still enjoyed the ‘funny experience’ as the Blues hit top gear.

MELBOURNE – APRIL 07: Tom De Koning of the Blues celebrates a goal during the 2023 AFL Round 04 match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Carlton Blues at Marvel Stadium on April 7, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Charlie Curnow says the perspective gained from a career-threatening knee injury will quickly allow him to move on from missing out on Carlton’s first 10-goal haul since 1995.

Blues spearhead Curnow was in imperious form in Carlton’s 108-point victory against West Coast but was stranded on nine goals despite teammates trying to feed him late in the last term.

It was a spectacular outing from Curnow on a night when coach Michael Voss was also thrilled with a complete midfield performance and strong cameos from defenders Brodie Kemp and Alex Cincotta.

Harry McKay’s selfless performance against star defender Tom Barrass meant Curnow monstered multiple opponents, but he just missed out on a 10-goal feat last achieved by a Carlton player in 1995 (Stephen Kernahan).

He said post-match he would never forget those dark times battling persistent issues with his fractured patella even as he transforms one of footy’s most dominant forwards.

“It was an interesting one. I always come back to it, but if you asked me three years ago when I was lying on the couch with a broken knee that wasn’t doing much, and you had told me three years later I would be able to help our team and have an impact on the scoreboard like this I wouldn’t believe you, so I am happy with it,” he said.

“It was a pretty funny experience at the end there. We had a lot of roles coming into the game and I could feel all the boys getting behind me and I felt great. It was a fairly fun experience.”

Charlie Curnow celebrates one of his nine goals. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Tom De Koning will miss next week with concussion after a VFL hit but Marc Pittonet continued his strong AFL form with 35 hitouts, 13 possessions and six tackles.

It came as Voss challenged his Blues to use Saturday night’s thumping win as a launching pad for the remainder of their season.

Voss said while others will focus on Curnow’s return, he was thrilled by the processes and method the whole team stuck to in making those opportunities for their key forward.

“I have watched him and Harry (McKay) through pre-season,” Voss said.

“For him to be able to finish his work was important. The forwards have been working really hard on their relationships and their cohesion.

“They are a good reason to be one dimensional because they can impact a game significantly. But we also have to look at the other options and we did that today.

“We looked at the other options and maybe that’s where he got some more opportunities because of it.

“I’m really pleased it was a team effort. Harry had an important role to play today on Tom Barrass, and he was able to do that.

“A lot of people played their roles to allow that to happen.

“We probably had our midfield group together for the first time, that I could recall. We have to use this as a launching pad for the season.”

SOS spotted on TDK watch as Blue out in cold

– Chris Cavanagh

Carlton ruckman Tom De Koning is no certainty to return to the senior ranks next week after producing a quiet VFL outing on Saturday.

Having been managed due to soreness in round 5, eyebrows were raised when De Koning was sent back to the seconds on the weekend instead of making the trip to Perth to face West Coast.

Carlton coach Michael Voss explained on Friday that the emerging tall was “pretty clear on what he’s got to go back and work on”.

However, the move has only fuelled speculation that the out-of-contract De Koning could find a new home at the end of the year.

He has attracted strong interest from several clubs, including Sydney, St Kilda and Geelong.

Sydney list manager Kinnear Beatson and St Kilda list manager Stephen Silvagni were both in the crowd watching the VFL match on Saturday.

Graeme Allan and Stephen Silvagni from St Kilda watching Tom De Koning. Picture: Ian Currie

De Koning, 23, managed just seven disposals, 13 hit-outs and two marks against Footscray, splitting his time between ruck and forward roles.

He also kicked a second-quarter goal after taking a diving mark, but missed another set shot in the opening term.

De Koning had an injury scare late in the second quarter after falling heavily in a centre-bounce ruck contest.

He came from the field and was assessed by medical staff in the rooms before being cleared to start the third quarter on the ground.

De Koning failed to make an impact in his game in the reserves. Picture: Ian Currie

Jaxon Binns, who was selected at pick 32 in last year’s national draft, was one of the shining lights for the Blues in a five-point loss to the Bulldogs.

The running machine continued his strong run of VFL form with 26 disposals and a goal, playing roles across half-forward and halfback.

AFL-listed midfielders Paddy Dow (25 disposals) and Lachie O’Brien (19 disposals, two goals) also had good games.

The Bulldogs’ top draft pick from last year, Jedd Busslinger, caught the eye with 18 disposals and nine marks in defence.

Sam Darcy finished with 14 disposals, 13 hit-outs and four marks, spending time in the ruck as well as forward and in defence.

month that Carlton was increasingly confident the ruck-forward was leaning towards staying on a two-year bridging deal, which would take him through to his free agency.

But there is understood to still be a significant discrepancy between what rival clubs are offering – believed to be more than $700,000 per season – compared to what the Blues would be comfortable in paying him.

De Koning missed the early part of training last week due to illness which hampered his preparation for the St Kilda match.

The club chose to manage him last weekend, although he was one of the emergencies on standby before the match.

He has played 46 games for the Blues across six seasons since his 2018 debut, including five this season, where he has averaged 11 disposals.

The Blues have managed to recontract many of its most important players in recent seasons with Patrick Cripps, Sam Walsh, Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay among a raft of players to commit long-term to the club.

The debate around De Koning’s worth is fascinating given rivals would be prepared to pay him on potential as much as his output so far, knowing that they would need to do that to prise him out of Carlton.