Media pundits are torn on whether Carlton is making the right call in playing Charlie Curnow this Friday night against St Kilda.
Curnow has not played since 2019, dealing with ongoing knee issues, but has been slowly building up for a return in the back half of 2021.
After months of training, he has run out in two scratch matches for the Blues and emerged unscathed.
Given Victoria’s lockdown, Curnow hasn’t actually played in a proper VFL match, but coach David Teague strongly indicated he was now available to be selected in the AFL side on Wednesday given everything they’ve seen.
Former Fremantle coach Ross Lyon believes it’s the wrong call.
“I don’t understand it. I can’t fathom it. He’s missed two years of football, had significant patella and kneecap issues,” Lyon told Footy Classified.
“You can only go off the information. He’s had two reserve scratch matches, not even legitimate 18 versus 18, they can’t make the finals.
“I could understand if it was four and he’s ticked them off, but two?
“Sometimes you’ve got to save the player from himself. He was walking in (asking to play) the week before which tells you he’s not realistic.
“Their conditioner and doctor know better than me and the coach, but they would want to be sure, the risk is worth the reward here.”
Tim Watson however disagrees and feels that Curnow getting a month of footy under his belt will do him the world of good going into 2022.
“Nothing may happen for Carlton this year, but for him and his confidence to set himself up for next year, that’s really important,” Watson told SEN Breakfast.
“That’s important for somebody to be able to have that knowledge.
“If it works out well for him this year in the last four games, he then goes into a six-month break with confidence in his mind, ‘okay I got through those four games. I can attack my pre-season now and I’m going to be okay for next year’.
“As opposed to going in with that real doubt in his mind if he wasn’t to play.
“(And if it goes wrong) you’ve got to deal with the consequences like all things in life.
“The upside is to have that confidence going into next year.
“It’s just a mindset thing. I think there’s also an upside for the fans. They need some optimism as well. They need a sugar hit.
“You have to trust, despite how excited he is about playing, he has to trust that the people around him, who have been following his day-to-day activities, his recovery, his rehabilitation for two years, are in the best position to make a decision on his behalf with him.”
Curnow will likely be the only key forward available for the Blues this weekend, with Harry McKay (toe) expected to miss another week.
Mitch McGovern could be called up after a lengthy stint on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, but is more likely to play VFL.
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