‘Deadline deal’: Blues ‘sitting on their hands’… but ‘third club’ could unlock Curnow-Swans trade

If Charlie Curnow’s trade wish to leave Carlton is granted, it looms as a genuine deadline day deal, according to the Fox Footy Trading Day panel, with St Kilda champion Leigh Montagna declaring the onus is on Sydney to get the deal done.

Curnow is arguably the biggest fish of the 2025 trade period, with the star dual Coleman Medallist determined to leave the Blues, despite being contracted to the club until the end of 2029.

Curnow’s preferred new team, according to several reports, is Geelong. But Cats football boss Andrew Mackie on Monday acknowledged it’d be tough for his club to land both Curnow and ruck Rowan Marshall – who’s told St Kilda he wants out – in the same trade period.

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And the Gold Coast Suns, who were the first club linked to Curnow when reports of the player’s openness to a trade initially emerged, have been ruled out as a landing spot, with the club working hard to secure Norm Smith Medallist Christian Petracca from Melbourne.

It leaves Curnow’s most likely landing spot as the Sydney Swans, who are pursuing Curnow yet are aware of a key “difficulty” in arranging a trade.

Swans list boss Chris Keane on Tuesday told AFL Trade Radio his club was keen to acquire Curnow, but acknowledged “there are some complexities” in securing a trade due to Curnow’s contract status. He also declared contracted Sydney players like Will Hayward and James Rowbottom wouldn’t be made available in any possible Curnow deal.

Keane also revealed conversations with the Blues around a Curnow trade had been “limited” so far.

Speaking on Fox Footy’s Trading Day, Fox Sports News reporter David Zita suggested two first-round picks would have to be Sydney’s “starting point” for Curnow, adding: “It’s Pick 10 this year – that’ll get bumped back (due to draft night bids) – and a future first, which you would imagine could be Pick 14 or 15 next year, depending on how the Swans go.”

Asked if two first-rounders for Curnow would satisfy Carlton, Montagna said: “It’s not far off. Pick 11 and a pick in the teens next year, it’s not too far off the mark.

“I think Carlton would probably like a player as well – and I do think Sydney have options they could look at. Ollie Florent has been floated a lot, there’s the Will Hayward discussion and other names as well.

“I think this is on Sydney to get this deal done. They desperately need Charlie Curnow to be a premiership threat in the next couple of seasons. That’ll certainly boost their stocks.

“I think they’ll find a way to get this done. It’ll probably still, I think, have to include a player, but the two first-round picks for me is not far off.”

Montagna said a third club could get involved to help the Blues acquire a player and that Sydney’s future first-rounder would hold some appeal as it could help Carlton match a bid on highly-rated 2026 father-son draft prospect Cody Walker, who’s already committed to joining the Blues.

“Generally what will happen is it’ll involved a third club. This generally doesn’t just work with two clubs,” Montagna said.

“Carlton still might get a player. It might not just be from the Sydney Swans, it might be from another club.”

Herald Sun chief football reporter Jay Clark said he could understand why the Blues haven’t been proactive in Curnow trade talks to date.

“I think the Swans would be happy to incorporate Florent in this deal,” Clark told Trading Day. “He can kick the ball nicely, can finish on the outside and has some decent wheels. Didn’t play his best footy this season.

“But Carlton aren’t doing a lot of talking on Curnow’s future. I think Graham Wright and co are sitting on their hands and this is going to be a real deadline deal.

“Strategically, I don’t think the Blues have a reason to show their hand too early. The emphasis and onus is on Sydney to come with an exciting package.”

Curnow was hampered by injury and a limited pre-season in 2025, booting 32 goals from 18 games. It was well down on his output over the previous three seasons, which saw him boot 202 goals between 2022 and 2024.

“This guy is a star and he would elevate the Sydney Swans, who missed the eight this year, into premiership calculations with everyone fit and healthy,” Montagna said.

“It then allows guys like (Joel) Amartey and (Hayden) McLean to be second or third options – which they really should be in many forward lines.

“Carlton can sit back and wait and say ‘give us your best offer’ and leave it as late as possible to make sure the Swans stump up.”

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