Charlie Curnow explains why he left Carlton Blues for the Sydney Swans, talks about his relationship with Michael Voss, Jacob Weitering
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It was around this time that Curnow first transferred to the Gold Coast, then Sydney and then Geelong, the club he supported as a child.
The Swans felt the striker could be rewarded at this point, but Curnow insisted he did not speak to other clubs until after the Blues’ season because “it didn’t feel right being at Carlton and talking to other clubs at the time”.
Following the defeat to Hawthorn in Sam Docherty’s farewell match on 24 July, Curnow publicly declared that he would stay. Curnow said at the time that he had not yet made up his mind. Privately he was telling his teammates how he felt about his future at Carlton.
Defender Jacob Weitering, part of Carlton’s 2015 draft class, was one of the first Blues he spoke to on Wednesday night.
“Yes, I was really transparent with them,” Curnow said. “Most of the men I’ve been with for a long time and [I’ve] I have a lot of great friends there and you probably hear this a lot but I chatted with him. [Weitering] For three months about this. It wasn’t as if this came as a shock to any of them.
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Curnow dismissed speculation that his relationship with Blues coach Michael Voss had become strained this year. Curnow has played his best football under Voss in 2022-24, coming close to winning three straight Coleman Medals after missing most of the 2019-21 season due to knee injuries.
“Not at all,” Curnow said during his unveiling as the Swan at the club’s South Melbourne office. “After all, it’s a very high-pressure environment.
“According to me, [there were] Frankly, some things that have crept in there that I can tell are not true. Football is always a challenging environment and with that will come many challenges. But for me and him, I don’t see our relationship being affected by this at all.
“It’s hard to have a few good conversations with him at the end of the season… If I want to get traded, you have to do it; you can’t just look past him and start putting myself out there.
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Curnow spoke briefly with Voss after the trade was completed and said he would contact his former coach again and thank him.
“I played great football under Vossy; we had a great relationship,” Curnow said.
“I owe him a lot. I came back from injury and was able to play under him for three years and play good football. When I look back, when I finish football, when I play under him, it will be one of my best memories.”
It will take time for Carlton fans to get used to seeing Curnow in red and white. Curnow was taking his photo opposite the South Melbourne Market when a punter walked by shouting “Go the Blues”.
Blues fans’ initial thoughts were against Curnow, but the player remembers his time at the club fondly; from seeing former best and fairest winner Heath Scotland “walking around the changing rooms topless” to becoming a fan favourite.
“I love the club [and] I have very good memories and very good friends. [there]Curnow said.
“I have good relationships with all the kids and coaches; we’ve had a few over the years.
“Carlton fans have been very good to me… I’m very lucky and grateful for the 10 years I spent there.”
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