Star forward Charlie Curnow has officially been added to Carlton’s leadership group.
The dual Coleman Medallist is now one of three vice-captains alongside Jacob Weitering and Sam Walsh to serve under reappointed skipper Patrick Cripps in 2024.
The addition of Curnow has the Blues with a co-vice skipper across each section of the ground - defence, midfield and forward line.
It now presents as potentially the highest quality group of players to lead an AFL club in 2024, according to Kane Cornes.
“It’s leadership group time, it’s that time in the AFL calendar where every club will announce their leadership group,” Cornes said on SEN Breakfast.
“Do they have the best leadership group in the league?
“It’s just four (players) and I love that it’s four. It’s not 10, it’s not eight, its not seven - it’s four.
“Cripps is the captain and then you’ve got Weitering, Walsh and Curnow. Is that the highest quality - in terms of star power - leadership group in the league?
“That is the strongest leadership group.”
Co-host Sam Edmund suggested Collingwood’s group of leaders consisting of captain Darcy Moore and his lieutenants Brayden Maynard and Jeremy Howe may still rival them.
“I don’t know how you can knock the premier, but it’s a good core of leaders.”
Cornes added: “That knocks off the premier.
“I haven’t seen their updated 2024 group…”
Edmund interjected: “There’s some pretty decorated players in that group.”
Before highlighting the difference in mindsets between clubs when it comes to compiling their leadership groups.
“You look at Brisbane who went within a whisker of winning a premiership, they had 11 players in their leadership group,” he added.
“So it’s amazing the difference in approach. Brisbane had 11 and here’s Carlton with four.”
Speaking of his own promotion, Curnow is eager to work with his fellow forwards to help lead the Blues towards that elusive premiership.
“I’ve put myself in a position where I can help the boys out, help the team and we’re all driving towards that one goal,” he told Carlton Media.
“I’m still learning. I’m very lucky that I’ve got ‘H’ (Harry McKay), Matt (Owies), people like Jack Martin, Lochie Fogarty and Matty Cottrell, and you’ve got little ‘Durds’ (Corey Durdin) and ‘Mots’ (Jesse Motlop) running around.
“It’s a good unique bunch and I’m very lucky that we’re all working together. It’s not really me that will be leading but a whole bunch of us.”
With their quality group of leaders at the forefront, the Blues will take on Geelong at Ikon Park in match sim on February 22 before their AFL Community Series clash with Melbourne at the same venue on February 28.
Their first fixture of the 2024 season comes in Opening Round against the Lions at the Gabba on March 8.
Until then, the Carlton hype machine is in full effect.
