Melbourne legend Garry Lyon has declared it’s a “time of change” at Carlton, suggesting the Blues should leave the door ajar for rivals to offer juicy trade deals for superstar forward Charlie Curnow.
It comes as Sydney zeros in on Curnow as it’s No. 1 target for the upcoming AFL trade period, per CODE Sports, despite being strongly linked to Bulldog Jamarra Ugle-Hagan for most of the year.
Both Curnow, contracted until 2029, and the Blues shut down trade speculation last month when he was first linked to a potential move.
FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
Foxfooty.com.au’s Ben Cotton on Wednesday reported the Swans had “asked the question to Curnow’s camp” in an attempt to bolster their forward line for 2026 and beyond.
But negotiating a trade with Carlton for Curnow would be tricky. A move to a rival club would likely require Curnow formally requesting a trade away from Ikon Park, which Carlton could simply reject. And should the Blues feel pushed to entertain a deal, they’d almost certainly demand a mega haul for the dual Coleman Medallist.
Speaking on Fox Footy’s AFL 360, Lyon said Curnow would be a “perfect” fit for the Swans.
“He fits the profile. He fits the history of the Sydney Swans and what they’ve been able to do in terms of attracting big-name key forwards with a profile and a presence and someone that fits into the market,” Lyon told AFL 360.
“He’d be perfect. He’d be absolutely perfect for the Sydney Swans.”
But there’s decent rival interest in Curnow, who’s also been linked to Geelong and Gold Coast, as well as the Swans, with a view Curnow would prefer to be away from the Melbourne footy bubble for lifestyle reasons.
Asked if the Blues should consider trading Curnow, Lyon said: “They should say ‘no, under no circumstances would we consider a trade’ – and then sit back and see what comes their way. That’s the way this thing works.
“History is littered with players and clubs who have declared that ‘under no circumstances will we take the bait’ – and then two days later they go: ‘Changed our mind, a deal’s been done.’ So that’s open.
“I think everything’s on the table – and if something crazy comes Carlton’s way then I wouldn’t be surprised.”
How to use the spare man – Simmo & Horse | 03:57
Curnow and fellow Carlton teammates next week will commence exit interviews, with the Blues’ 2025 campaign to conclude on Thursday night against Essendon.
Lyon urged Curnow to be upfront in his exit interview.
“If he said it publicly, ‘I want to stay, end of story’ – but what he says to Carlton might be different,” Lyon said.
“You only get one shot at this, these blokes, and it doesn’t necessarily mean if he says ‘I want to go’ that he goes. But be upfront and be honest.
“It’s a time of change at Carlton Footy Club.”
While Curnow’s Carlton contract still has another four seasons to run, teammate Mitch McGovern will soon be officially off-contract.
The Blues’ decision on Wednesday night not to select McGovern for the Bombers clash means he’s stuck on 17 games for the season and, therefore, will not hit a contract trigger guaranteeing him a deal for 2026, though he could yet be recontracted separately.
“It puts the Carlton footy club back in the driver’s seat by not playing. If he is to play on at the Carlton footy club, then that is to be negotiated,” Lyon said.
“Should he have played this game, then he would have – assuming he exercised the trigger – played on at his want and at the contract that he had negotiated.
“It doesn’t necessarily mean that he won’t be at Carlton – it’s not an overly positive sign – but it doesn’t necessarily mean he might be done. He could renegotiate maybe on half the money if they’re both happy and push forward.”
Discussion about this post