Luckless Carlton star forward Charlie Curnow will miss the start of the AFL season as he continues his rehabilitation from knee surgery.
The Blues insist the 22-year-old’s recovery from an operation in November to fix a broken patella suffered when he slipped on some tiles is progressing well.
But on Wednesday they confirmed he will miss the opening rounds of their premiership campaign as he continues a cautious rehabilitation.
November’s injury was his third mishap with the same knee in six months.
Curnow suffered ligament damage in a Round 15 win over Fremantle last year and didn’t play again.
He also dislocated his right patella while playing a casual game of basketball with friends in October.
“With Charlie, we have a really good understanding of what his injury is,” club performance manager Andrew Russell said.
“He won’t be available for the start of the season (but) we expected it to take a bit of time to recover.
“We’ll give everyone an update as he progresses.”
The news is a significant blow for the Blues, who finished 16th last year but are eyeing a jump up the ladder in David Teague’s first full season in charge.
While the club is unable to put a definite time frame on Curnow’s return to the field, he is maintaining a positive mindset.
“I had a meeting with the surgeon and the knee is tracking along quite well,” Curnow said.
“We’ve ruled out the start of the season, which is kind of nice to know. It means I don’t have to rush back.
“I can take my time to look after the knee and do all the right processes before I make my return to the field.
“I can’t wait to get back on the track and do what I love.”
Adding to Carlton’s concerns in attack, key tall Harry McKay has been slowed by groin soreness this pre-season.
The Blues open the 2020 season against Richmond on March 19 at the MCG.
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
Well said Macca, really i crack up laughing at some of the stuff he coughs up.
Macca
Roar Rookie
Why the sudden concern about the articles contents? You have posted 11 times on this article before this one and none of them have been about the article at all. If you don't want people to laugh at you don't be so blatantly hypocritical.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Wrong article. This one is about that wayward boy, Charlie. Remember?
Macca
Roar Rookie
The exact point that has been discussed the whole time isn't a tangent. The SOO game is about the AFL getting rather than giving. If he AFL wanted to maximise donations they would have gone with the round 1 or JLT options.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
It doesn't. You're going on some very strange tangents. Not at all interesting tangents.
Macca
Roar Rookie
How is suggesting SOO make a permanent return an endorsement of its fundraising ability? All they are doing is testing the publics appetite for more SOO. This game is much more to do with the AFL getting something than giving something.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Oh, they are.
Macca
Roar Rookie
But they aren’t endorsing as a fundraiser are they, more the return of SOO, which is exactly what I said the AFL was doing at 11.30 on the 17th. And the conversation around whether SOO should return keeps AFL in the papers during a traditionally quiet period
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Yep. It seems everyone is endorsing the single game...everyone that counts, at least.
Macca
Roar Rookie
And the market testing begins "Richmond coach Damien Hardwick says he could potentially see the return of State of Origin in the AFL in the future, given the positive reaction to next month's game for bushfire relief."
Macca
Roar Rookie
Good for you, never lose that naive gullibility. Sure the AFL could have found numerous ways to donate money to the fire appeal that wouldn't have given them the opportunity to announce a state of origin match, then announce two squads of the players the clubs have offered up, then announce the Captains who will assist the coaches in the selection and then have a "draft night" where the captain and coach from each side make their selections (just like the AFLX selection last year) before finally having the actual game 6 weeks from now (despite growing calls for funds to start flowing more urgently) and not filled the quiet pre-season with AFL "announceables". And sure whatever corporate sponsors that get rolled out during this "telethon" could have simply donated their money to any of the other fundraisers or charities instead of holding off to make an announcement during a televised football match. But all these massive corporations are only acting in the best interests of the victims and not thinking of how their actions reflect on them. Isn't there a bible verse about performing your charitable acts in secret rather than doing them for your self-aggrandisement
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I have a hunch they have one or two skills more than you have. If you disagree with them, the AFL must be correct.
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
Good point I completely forgot about Roughead mate
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
The AFL can't even organise a fair fixture for there own competition. The one off mickey mouse game that involves allies is a joke. As has been suggested there were way better options.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I'm not.
Macca
Roar Rookie
But which numbers, the numbers about which method gets us the most donations or the method that gets the most for the AFL (ie testing the appetite for SOO, filling the void left by AFLX’s demise, keeping AFL in the papers during the lean summer months and the most publicity for display of generousity). I am tipping its the latter.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I'm absolutely certain that the AFL and the AFLPA have crunched numbers. They'll know.
Macca
Roar Rookie
Exactly - come back in round 3 or 4 absolutely cherry ripe. Russell has a very good track record, I have complete confidence that whenever Curnow comes back it will be as soon as he can consistently impact games.
Macca
Roar Rookie
Except it is t a “once off” is it, tennis had their “telethon” for the fires this week, cricket has their “telethon” in the near future, each club has had various ways of raising funds (the blues used 100 number 9 signed guernseys and volunteered at a food bank), most corporations have already announced their donations, even the AFL itself has already donated millions ($2.5m)and most supporters will have given to the various campaigns long before the 28th of Feb roles around.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Roughead could be a McKay match too and we get Langdon back hopefully this year as another intercept mark. Who is top 4 this year 6x6?