Charlie Curnow

Selected by the Carlton Football Club with the twelfth overall pick in the 2015 AFL draft, Charlie Curnow made his impactful AFL debut in Round 2 of the 2016 season against Sydney, where he registered eleven disposals, four marks, and kicked his inaugural goal. His strong early career trajectory at Carlton earned him a nomination for the prestigious AFL Rising Star award in 2017, ultimately placing fourth overall among the league’s most promising young talents. Curnow solidified his commitment to Carlton in June 2018 by signing a four-year contract extension. The 2018 season proved to be a breakout year, as he distinguished himself by finishing equal-third in the coveted John Nicholls Medal and becoming the club’s leading goalkicker with an impressive 34 goals.

Despite facing a significant knee injury in 2019 that led to multiple recurrences and sidelined him from senior games until 2021, Curnow demonstrated remarkable resilience, returning to peak form through dedicated rehabilitation. The 2022 season marked a monumental achievement for Curnow, as he played every game and clinched his first Coleman Medal, leading the league with 64 goals. This success made him and teammate Harry McKay the first different players from the same team to win consecutive VFL/AFL leading goalkicker awards since 1900–1901. Building on this performance, he signed a landmark six-year contract extension with Carlton in 2022, extending his tenure until 2029.

He continued his dominance in 2023, kicking a career-high ten goals in a single game against West Coast in Round 19 and securing his second consecutive Coleman Medal with a remarkable 78 goals. Following a stellar career at Carlton, Curnow was notably traded to the Sydney Swans at the conclusion of the 2025 AFL season, a significant move marking a new chapter in his highly successful professional journey within the Australian Football League.