Blues add Charlie Curnow to leadership group for the first time as co-vice-captain

Dual Coleman medallist Charlie Curnow came under the spotlight last year after going missing in finals. He responds to his critics after being handed a key role by the Blues.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - September 23, 2023. AFL . Charlie Curnow of the Blues celebrates a 1st quarter goal during the 2nd preliminary final between the Brisbane Lions and the Carlton at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia.. Photo by Michael Klein.

Carlton’s new co-vice-captain Charlie Curnow can’t wait to get started on a campaign he hopes can deliver a drought-breaking 17th VFL-AFL premiership for the Blues, saying that challenge excites him far more than chasing a third successive Coleman Medal.

And the Blues spearhead has Vowed to learn from his lean finals series last year, saying he plans to make amends at his next opportunity.

Curnow has been elevated to Carlton’s leadership this season alongside fellow vice-captains Jacob Weitering and Sam Walsh and skipper Patrick Cripps.

The appointment is a fitting reward for his outstanding past two seasons since recovering from a career-threatening knee injury, with his influence growing on and off the field.

Charlie Curnow with skipper Patrick Cripps. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Asked if he had given any thought to potentially becoming the first AFL player since Gary Ablett Sr (1993-95) to win three consecutive Coleman Medals, Curnow said he was more focused on team success than individual honours.

“Hopefully the flag, that would be ideal,” the 27-year-old said.

“I haven’t thought about it (a third Coleman Medal) … that stuff is all nice but in the end each season comes to an end and you are not really satisfied without that end goal of what Collingwood got to taste last year.”

Curnow, who has kicked 64 and 81 goals in the past two seasons, was uncharacteristically well held in the Blues’ three final appearances last year, kicking only three goals.

He said he had learnt from the finals experience and can’t wait to work towards getting another shot at footy in September.

“It was a different ball game,” Curnow said on Wednesday

“I didn’t perform as well as what I would like to in the end but that’s probably the nature of our game, I get to have another crack at it this year.

“I’m looking forward to playing with our forward line as a unit, and hopefully attack another finals series.”

Cripps said he had enjoyed watching Curnow’s evolution as a leader in recent seasons, with his elevation to the four-man leadership group made in consultation with the coaches and voted on by the players.

“It’s amazing what he’s done and what he’s achieved in the two years since the long injury lay-off,” Cripps said of Curnow.

“He’s infectious, he brings people together and when he talks, people listen.

“He leads by example. I think he is the only player on the list in the last two years who hasn’t missed a game.”

Curnow said he had learnt plenty about leadership in recent years from Cripps and co, and also his brother Ed, who retired at the end of last season.

Part of his elevation comes from his selflessness, his care for his teammates and for being a central driver in the Blues’ on and off field connection.

Charlie Curnow is dreaming of team success after successive Coleman medals. Picture: Michael Klein.

He said he liked to “bring some energy” to the group and revealed the players spent a night at St Andrews recently as a competitive game of social cricket brought them even closer together.

Curnow’s appointment means the Blues now have a designated leader on every line, but the star forward said there were plenty of others in the group capable of stepping up as well.

Cripps, too, said the Blues were determined to get better and to learn from the wild three-week finals ride that saw them knock off Sydney and Melbourne before just falling short against Brisbane at the Gabba.

“We celebrated the (2023) year for what it was because the middle part of the year, compared to where we got to, you’ve got to celebrate that,” Cripps said.

“When you do lose and don’t get your end goal there still is that determination to go a few steps further.

“We’ve got the platform to attack it. We worked that out mid-last year when we’re 15th on the ladder, we’re lucky this year it’s an even playing field.”

Originally published as Blues add Charlie Curnow to leadership group for the first time as co-vice-captain