Charlie Curnow: Lessons from trade ‘daunting experience’ and helping ‘hungry’ Swans surge again

Star Swans recruit Charlie Curnow has opened up on the “daunting experience” of requesting a trade, declaring he’s “proud of myself for having a crack” at a fresh start.

Curnow was the clear centrepiece of last year’s AFL trade period, moving from Carlton to Sydney in a seismic deal that saw the Swans part with three first-round draft picks, as well as goalkicker Will Hayward and, indirectly, Ollie Florent.

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The dual Coleman Medallist left Ikon Park – despite still being contracted to the Blues until the end of the 2029 season – to link up with a Sydney team looking for a quick bounce after missing the 2025 finals series.

Speaking to foxsports.com.au after being confirmed as a Kayo Sports ambassador for the year, Curnow said he “learned so much that last six months” of 2025.

“I’ve probably just understood myself a lot more as a person and I guess I just recognised some things in my life that I maybe wanted to get a change in and some things weren’t sitting right with me,” Kayo Sports ambassador Curnow said to foxsports.com.au’s Nic Savage last month when asked how he reflected on his trade. “So I just felt like I needed to do something and make a change happen.

“It’s actually quite a daunting experience putting yourself out there like that, so I’m glad that’s all over.

“I guess just to learn to check in with myself a bit more – I think that’s something I’ll probably take forward into the future.

“Sometimes you just need a change. It’s like anyone in any work at any stage of life, if you feel like you might need a change and it might be for the good, I think it’s always nice to have a crack and have a go for it.

“I don’t know where it’s going to end up – it could even go either way at this moment, we still don’t know – but I’m just proud of myself for having a crack.”

After a whirlwind few weeks post-trade, Curnow said he and partner Tiana were “loving” living in Sydney as they adjust to “a full change in life”.

But Curnow added he did “miss home a lot” and it was initially jarring not training with the Blues 10 years after they drafted him with Pick 12.

“I miss all the Carlton boys and it is different not seeing them every day. But I’m super lucky that I’m just in a new club environment now and creating new memories,” he said.

“It’s been just a really nice change and change of pace, change of life and I’m really enjoying it.”

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SWANS ‘A NEW FAMILY’

As daunting as “putting yourself out there” for trade was, Curnow was also nervous for the prospect of settling into a new AFL club environment in a new state.

But the 29-year-old said he was “super grateful” for the Swans’ welcoming environment.

“I thought it was going to be this big, daunting experience going to a different football club, but it’s really not,” he said.

“A lot of clubs are, I’m assuming, quite similar. Carlton has some great things about them and Sydney also have some great attributes to them.

“I don’t know, it hasn’t been too daunting. You get into the club and it’s like having a new family all of a sudden. You’re just there and you’re all working together to get this ultimate success.

“To do that, you kind of fast-track your friendships a little bit and it’s pretty cool. There’s not many workplaces in the world where you get to do that and experience different people and different places instantly.”

For Curnow, being fit and training fully at this time of the year is a blessing.

Curnow’s 2025 campaign was hampered by injury setbacks. He said he underwent surgery four times before Round 1 of last season, which initially stemmed from some knee discomfort in the pre-season.

The star forward managed to play 18 games, but kicked just 32 goals – well down on his output from the previous three seasons, which saw him win two Coleman Medals.

Ahead of the 2026 season with Sydney, Curnow is fit and firing, with no concerns around his previously troublesome knee. In an ominous sign, Swans track-watchers believe he’s been one of the club’s summer standouts on the track.

“It’s all going really good,” Curnow said. “This time of year, it’s nice just to be training and doing every session. It’s always nice when you’re just out on the track and having a kick and enjoying time with the boys.

“When you’re not out there this time of year, it’s painful to watch and I feel like you get to enjoy your life also. You get to jump in the ocean, go for a surf – it’s a bit more freedom when you’re not injured.”

BUDDY-LIKE IMPACT

Weeks after Curnow had started training with the Swans, star teammate Errol Gulden likened Curnow’s on-ground presence to Lance Franklin, telling reporters the ex-Blue had already given direction around “where he wants the ball to go and how he wants us to play and deliver the ball”.

While Curnow was flattered by the Buddy comparison – “that’s lovely by Errol!” – he said he just wanted to “go in and be yourself a little bit and have a bit of fun with training and games”.

“Hopefully they’re learning a bit off me and I’m learning a lot off them,” he said.

“Everyone has their own unique style and the way they play. I’m here just to hopefully jump in and have a bit of fun with them and hopefully get a few wins along the way.

“I always looked at the Swans as a team that had such a great history. Moving from South Melbourne to Sydney and learning about that journey already since I’ve been at the club, it’s been super inspiring.

“From their recent history, they’ve been such a great football club for a few years now and they’ve been up that top-end.

“I just want to come in and enjoy my footy with the boys. They do everything so well, so I don’t need to try and reinvent the wheel with them. It’s just slotting in and working with what they’ve got because they’ve obviously done it for such a long period now and they’ve got to that last day in September a few times.”

After making the 2024 Grand Final as minor premiers, the Swans produced a sluggish start to their 2025 campaign, dipping to 4-8 halfway through coach Dean Cox’s first season at the helm. They won eight of their last 11 games but ultimately finished ninth to miss finals for first time since 2020 and just the fifth time this century.

In recent years, an AFL team tends to jump from the bottom 10 to the top four every season. The Swans, for many pundits, are the team most likely to make that jump in 2026.

Curnow said he sensed “everyone’s quite hungry to take that next step”.

“If I just look across the board of the list and what we’ve got, I think it’s a pretty unique opportunity with our list,” he said.

“I’d say we’re in pretty good stead for a great year.”

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