AFL news: Carlton star Charlie Curnow cleared of structural damage after knee injury scare

Carlton superstar Charlie Curnow sent a scare through the club on Saturday, while Jagga Smith moves closer to a round 1 debut. Glenn McFarlane has the latest in track watch.

Carlton is breathing a huge sigh of relief after star forward Charlie Curnow was cleared of any structural damage after suffering knee discomfort in Saturday’s open training session.

Curnow was sent in for precautionary scans after playing only a half of the Blues’ spirited match simulation session.

He looked sharp in his running, took a few strong marks and kicked a goal in the early stages of the competitive work.

But the 2000-strong Blues crowd in attendance at IKON Park felt flat when they saw the dual Coleman medallist leave the track early, flexing his leg as he headed into the rooms.

He didn’t return as the Blues chose to send him off for scans, which ultimately cleared him of any damage.

Charlie Curnow is under an injury cloud. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The club had earlier indicated he would only take part in a portion of match simulation.

He had been making steady progress from two off-season surgeries (ankle surgery followed by a knee clean-out in December).

Curnow completed a full session last Monday and a light session on Wednesday.

The Blues won’t take any unnecessary risks with Curnow, with his availability for Saturday week’s match simulation clash with St Kilda considered doubtful at this stage.

Blues midfielder Sam Walsh is recovering well from his January hamstring strain, but did not take part in any of the match simulation.

He did a power of running on Saturday and some light skills work and will look to increase the tempo across the next few weeks.

The biggest cheer from the crowd on the day came when Walsh ran laps with good speed around the outer wing.

He, too, is unlikely to take on the Saints in a fortnight but is tracking well with the club confident he will be right to play against the Tigers in round 1 next month.

Sam Walsh runs the boundary on Saturday. Picture: Andrew Batsch

MOVES LIKE JAGGA

Barring any unforeseen setback, you can pencil in boom draftee Jagga Smith to make his Carlton debut against Richmond on March 13.

Smith, who the Blues took with pick 3, looked sharp in the club’s match simulation session on Saturday morning, working in tandem in the ‘A’ team with skipper Patrick Cripps.

Wearing the No.7 Carlton jumper made famous by past greats Wayne Johnston and Brett Ratten, the silky-smooth Oakleigh Chargers draftee used the ball well and seemed to have the perfect mix of time and space which the good midfielders all seem to have.

Jack Silvagni calls for the ball. Picture: Andrew Batsch

JACK’S BACK

The shift to defence has cleared Jack Silvagni’s focus as he looks to resume from the ACL injury that wrecked his 2024 season.

Silvagni, 27, has been forced to fill holes for the Blues for much of his career but looks ready to settle down in the back half.

He lined up in the main side in match simulation in a defence that included Jacob Weitering, Adam Saad, Ollie Hollands and former Giant Nick Haynes, and seemed at home there.

The small forward set-up will be a fascinating watch as the Blues look for a replacement for new Eagle Matt Owies, with Jesse Motlop and Corey Durdin looking to make up for injury-hit 2024 seasons.

Tom De Koning went head to head with Marc Pittonet in the ruck, and flew for some big marks in making a solid impact on the match simulation.

Adam Cerra was granted the day off in preparation for his wedding on Saturday, but will be back on deck next week.

Originally published as AFL news: Carlton star Charlie Curnow cleared of structural damage after knee injury scare