Key Charlie Curnow move 'has not happened' as 'three options' for Harley Reid emerge

Yahoo

12 hours ago

Carlton coach Michael Voss has moved to dismiss drama about Charlie Curnow wanting a move away from Melbourne, while there is more speculation surrounding Harley Reid's future. Reports emerged Curnow was looking to get out of the limelight in Melbourne and seek a move to rivals the Gold Coast Suns for lifestyle reasons.
The forward has struggled in recent outings having gone four-straight games without a goal. Although he bounced back to his best kicking three in Carlton's win against Melbourne last Saturday night. The dual-Coleman medallist has signed until the end of 2029, but AAP and other outlets have reported Curnow has spoken to the club about a move.
Although under-siege coach Voss has moved to quell drama about their star man. Speaking on Wednesday, Voss said Curnow is contracted to the club and will be playing for the Blues at the start of the 2026 season.
"Charlie's a Carlton man and he'll stay a Carlton man," Voss said on Wednesday after the question was put to him. "I'm not sure how much more emphatic I need to be on that. Charlie's a very important person to us, and he'll play out his career here. He's a Carlton person and he'll stay one."
Speaking on Tuesday, reporter Tom Morris claimed Curnow had spoken to the club about his desire to get out of the Melbourne lights. 'It's different to an official trade request,' Morris told SEN Radio. 'I don't think Charlie would do that unless he believed he could get out. Clearly that looks unlikely if not highly impossible.
'An official trade request is when if Curnow walked into Wright's office and said 'trade me at the end of the season'. That has not happened.
'Conversations with senior officials at the club during which he has said he would like to play for the Suns (have). It's been communicated back to him - 'don't even try'. Carlton have been forced to shut it down to him directly and to his manager. That must be cause for some concern for supporters. At the very least their star is looking for a move and quite keen on it."
Curnow is averaging 1.8 goals per game in 2025, which is down from his career average. Curnow has a stellar record for the club having kicked 311 goals in 148 games for Carlton since his debut in 2016. The 28-year-old's rollercoaster form this season has been reflective of the team's performances so far.
Voss has come under plenty of pressure with the club set to miss out on finals footy sitting in 12th and 12 points out of the eight. Incoming chief executive Graham Wright is expected to make changes next year.
Harley Reid's 'options' heading into 2026
Meanwhile, Harley Reid's future is a talking point with question marks over his next move. Reid has been doing it tough this year in a West Coast side on an eight-game losing streak. Reports suggest a number of Victorian clubs are chasing the signature of the 20-year-old to bring him home. And reporter Morris believes the superstar has 'three options' going forward.
'There are three options,' he told SEN Radio. 'One is he signs (with the Eagles) now. The second is he asks for a trade in a few months. The third is that he lets next year play out and decides what he wants to do at the end of 2026. The third option won't happen.
'His management aren't going to put him through what Oscar Allen is going through; he's already under the microscope. He will make a decision on his future in the next few months. That will either be to request a trade or sign a shot term deal with an option for extension."
West Coast coach Andrew McQualter has admitted it's been a tough run of defeats for the club. Although the coach said he doesn't want the side's struggles to dissuade Reid from sticking around. Reid showcased his talent in the first half against Richmond having tallied 20 disposals and six clearances. But the second-half was a struggle having recorded just four possessions in the third quarter after rival Jack Ross tagged him.
Reid has come under pressure in the Eagles' midfield this year and McQualter doesn't want Reid to feel downtrodden after the latest defeat. "We are aware that we've got a 20-year-old carrying our midfield," McQualter said. "It's not an easy position for him. As a team we have to find more people and players and ways to not rely on one person."