The curly Charlie Curnow questions which need to be answered after trade bombshell

Rumours Charlie Curnow wants to head north are the latest bombshell to rock the Blues. Here are the big questions which now need answering.

Carlton has no interest in trading Charlie Curnow and the goalkicker himself doesn’t expect to get to Gold Coast despite his desire for a lifestyle change-up.

That may be the facts now, but facts can change as clubs reassess and players push harder for moves by October’s trade period.

Whether that stance on Curnow remains in the three months or not, his interest in playing elsewhere has lit a fire under a number of clubs, and intrigued a bunch of onlookers.

These are the questions that need answering about where the superstar sits now.

How would a trade to Gold Coast actually get done and would the Suns even want him?

No team would actually turn Curnow away if he was at the door, but the Suns list is not in need of key forward support.

With Ben King as a spearhead and young star talents Jed Walter and Ethan Read, the Suns have had too many tall forwards at times this year.

Of course, adding Curnow to the mix would make them better, but it is not a ‘need’.

The Suns are stacked with picks through.

Charlie Curnow of the Blues during todays light captains run session before taking on the Hawks tomorrow night. Picture: Michael Klein

They hold Port Adelaide’s first (currently pick eight), Collingwood’s first (pick 18) and their own (pick 11) plus future firsts but will need plenty of draft capital to match bids on academy guns Zeke Uwland and Dylan Patterson.

Carlton is not interested in trading Curnow, but if they do come around, the Suns can offer a heap of firsts.

The wheels might have to be greased with a Read or Walter, bringing to mind a similar Carlton trade from nearly 20 years ago involving Chris Judd and Josh Kennedy.

A pair of firsts and Walter or Read could at least get the Blues to answer the phone, but it may not entice the Suns.

If Brisbane is expected to land Oscar Allen, could they pivot to Curnow?

It would make sense right, given Curnow is an upgrade on Allen.

Brisbane is only an hour drive up the highway from Gold Coast, so lifestyle should be similar, and the Lions renowned fitness staff would surely appeal to Curnow given his injury history.

The Lions happily let Joe Daniher live in Byron Bay during his time at the club, in what proved to be a superb partnership.

But the Lions prefer to work in free agency generally to keep their draft hand in tact, that’s why they are so keen on FA’s Allen and Sam Draper.

The Lions have their first round picks in hand but this year’s pick would probably land in the 20s, so it wouldn’t get the Blues interested without a player like Zac Bailey thrown in.

Those kind of high quality players rarely get included in trade deals.

Who else would be interested?

The Cats have been interested onlookers on Curnow for his entire career and had close tabs on him before he signed a six-year deal in 2022.

He grew up in Bellbrae, a suburb over from Torquay, and no club in the league sells lifestyle like Geelong.

Like with every Curnow deal, a trade would be tricky, but the Cats have all their picks in hand.

Sydney, like Geelong, has sold lifestyle strongly in the past, and recruits like ruck Brodie Grundy have thrived in a more anonymous environment in the Harbour City.

The Swans are desperate for a key forward to complete their team and have been linked to Dogs goalkicker Jamarra Ugle-Hagan.

They also have all their picks in hand, and could try and include a running player Carlton desperately needs in Ollie Florent, who has fallen out of favour, in a trade.

Melbourne has also been scouring the market for key forwards, but don’t have the same lifestyle sell as the other options.

Could the Swans chase Charlie Curnow instead of Jamarra Ugle-Hagan. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images.

Would a potential Curnow departure change things for Tom De Koning? Or Jack Silvagni?

It would stand to reason if Curnow left, the Blues could up their offer to free agent De Koning.

But surely the main reason the Blues would ever consider trading Curnow is to free up space in the cap and retool, so using up that money immediately would dilute that.

Silvagni is being courted by Collingwood, but the Blues are keen to keep him.

If Charlie gets out, is the Blues flag window properly shut?

You never say never, as clubs have risen after losing superstars, like Geelong with Gary Ablett Jr and Hawthorn with Lance Franklin.

But both those clubs had already won flags when the legends left.

Carlton’s team ceiling has to be lower in 2026 without Curnow, especially if De Koning and even Silvagni left.

Maybe that would lead to a full tear down.

Have clubs had success in the past holding players who want to leave?

It’s a mixed bag in recent history for clubs keeping players who have dipped their toe into trade land.

Last year Melbourne was not interested in moving either Christian Petracca or Clayton Oliver, even after Oliver was courted by Geelong.

Both a premiership greats of the club, but given the Dees slide this year it might have worked out for both parties to consider a trade.

Geelong held on to both Tim Kelly and Esava Ratugolea when they pushed for moves to West Coast and Port Adelaide respectively, and they both got to those clubs a year later with the return only improving for the Cats.

Esava Ratugolea. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images.

Tim Kelly. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

The Blues couldn’t get a deal done to send Bryce Gibbs to Adelaide in 2016, but he got there a year later, netting two first-round picks.

Some others stayed and thrived.

Tom Papley famously was almost locked in at Carlton but Sydney couldn’t get the deal done.

Ryan O’Keefe wanted to go to Hawthorn in 2008 but that didn’t get through and he won a Norm Smith Medal for Sydney against the Hawks in 2012.

A developing, back-up ruck Tristan Xerri wanted to be a Saint in 2021 but the Roos held firm.

There may be some to watch this year – Power ruck Ivan Soldo, Giant Wade Derksen and Lion Deven Robertson were on the market last trade period but didn’t secure trades.

We used to laugh at Gold Coast, but are the Suns now a destination club?

Laughing stock no more.

Reigning Richmond best-and-fairest winner Daniel Rioli got to the Suns last year, so maybe coach Damien Hardwick has revamped the Suns to be on the road to power status.

Curnow’s interest is said to be more lifestyle-driven than team success, but if the Suns are in the finals the Surfers Paradise beaches suddenly look a lot more enticing to players hoping to get out of the Victorian football bubble.

The Suns seemingly have talented academy players on tap, coming in the draft every year, so if they become a big destination for stars, nobody will be giggling.

The Suns landed Daniel Rioli last trade period. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

How does the Curnow case explain clubs handing out long-term deals?

Not only is Curnow under contract, but he is under contract until the end of 2029.

Like Oliver last year, that means Carlton can simply say it is not interested in a trade and the conversation can stop right there.

While some hold their noses when players get long deals from clubs, this is part of the reason why.

Melbourne also ended trade speculation around Kysaiah Pickett with a monster deal earlier this year.

The long contract gives the clubs back some power that has been lost since the trade landscape opened up in recent years.

Originally published as The curly Charlie Curnow questions which need to be answered after trade bombshell