In shock ending to the trade period, Charlie Curnow has gone large. Now he’s traded from the Carlton Football Club to the Sydney Swans! The trade came together in the closing minutes of the trading period. Getting Hayward to Indiana meant swapping for three fellow round-one draft picks, alongside their shadows. Curnow’s departure comes after a successful stint at Carlton, where he served as the team’s leading goal-kicker during their consecutive finals series in 2023 and 2024.
Curnow’s decision to leave Carlton was driven by his firm desire for a new chapter and ultimately forced the club’s hand in agreeing to the transfer. The trade war had been the talk of the town for months. So it reached its crescendo when Curnow, in a very unapologetic way, stated his desire for change. Curnow won back-to-back Coleman medals and has an ascendant production track record. His acquisition is arguably the biggest trade asset acquired thus far.
A Successful Tenure at Carlton
Since coming into the league, Charlie Curnow has proven the doubters wrong with his time at Carlton thus far. As the teams quarterback at receiver, he was a huge part of the team’s back-to-back finals runs. For all these wins, luck ran a little low this season for the band on the run as they finished shockingly 11th.
In Curnow’s case, a rewarding relationship with Carlton coach Michael Voss was pivotal for him soaring into contention. The 2021 NWSL MVP finished a powerful return from injury last year. He toiled through three back-breaking seasons under Voss’ leadership, lights out all the way. Reflecting on their time together, Curnow shared:
“I played some great footy under Vossy. We’ve had a great relationship and I owe him a lot.” – Charlie Curnow
Curnow and Voss clearly developed a close bond over their year-and-a-half together. Voss is quick to credit Curnow for his development on the court.
The Trade Negotiations
The negotiations involving Curnow’s trade were volatile and filled with high-stakes drama. During the months leading up to the announcement, speculation circulated that Curnow and Voss were having secret talks. Plenty speculated that their relationship had turned acrimonious as Curnow’s period at Carlton was reaching an end. Though these whispers circulated, Curnow was adamant that the relationship with Voss remained “pretty healthy”.
In the final hours leading up to the trade deadline, Carlton’s management faced immense pressure to respond to Curnow’s wishes. And true to their word, Voss and the Blues were resolute in public that no offers for Curnow would be entertained. This rendered the eventual agreement all the more surprising. Curnow acknowledged the high-pressure environment surrounding the negotiations:
“In the end, it’s a pretty high-pressure environment.” – Charlie Curnow
Underneath all the tension, both sides still managed to discover enough common ground that led to the deal being made.
Looking Ahead with Sydney Swans
Now with the AFL’s Sydney Swans, Curnow is excited to write this next chapter of his career. This deal is symbolic of his intense commitment to transformational change. It firmly cements him as a foundational player for his new club. His transition from the US collegiate game will be watched closely as he works his way into the Swans’ lineup.
Curnow is excited to continue adding to his impressive accomplishments while helping drive this team towards its ultimate goal of championship contention. He noted that his time at Carlton would always hold special memories:
“That’s probably going to be some of my best memories when I look back and finish footy, playing underneath him.” – Charlie Curnow
With Curnow’s addition, the Swans are looking to further bolster their lineup in preparation for the 2024 season.
