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Gisborne: Planned outages Tue-WedFormer Blues GM reveals motives behind Curnow's trade desire
SEN • October 14th, 2025 11:32 am
Former Carlton GM Brad Lloyd has lifted the lid on the details of Charlie Curnow’s desired exit.
Revealing details from within the four walls of the club, Lloyd – who was let go by the club in early August – spoke on the driving forces behind why Curnow would seek a new home, providing a behind-the-scenes perspective on what may be one of the biggest trades in AFL history.
Lloyd expressed that while the trade request did come as a surprise to he and the club, his desire to move away from the Melbourne bubble was long-lasting.
“I am a bit (surprised),” Lloyd told SEN Breakfast.
“Great guy, Charlie. He just plays with real passion, and he lives that way as well. I think he’s someone you certainly wouldn’t want to lose. 2023, 81 goals for the season – I think when the ball is moving really quickly into the forward line, he is really hard to stop.
“I was up on the Gold Coast with him, went for a couple walks with him on the beach back in the hub days, and I think he enjoyed that lifestyle, getting away from the hustle and bustle of Melbourne as well. That part doesn’t surprise me, the Geelong or Sydney (factor), but he’d be a huge loss for the club.”
While it looks all but certain that Curnow will land at the Swans in the final moments of the trade period, Lloyd confirmed that there was certainly no rift between the star forward and the club, and particularly, no rift with coach Michael Voss.
Being under contract, Carlton can opt to hold onto Curnow if a trade doesn’t satisfy those in charge, and Lloyd does believe that there would be no hard feelings if the two-time Coleman Medallist was to suit up in navy blue once again in 2026.
“I think that’s the leverage Carlton have got,” Lloyd said.
“As a list manager, you always look at what the alternative to not getting the deal done, and the alternative is that he stays and gets on with it. That’s something that Charlie would have to work through, and it’s something that Carlton have got going for them.
“I think the fact that a big deal came in from Geelong (works in Charlie’s favour)… I think the flaw in that deal was that Michael Voss would want some players as part of it rather than Charlie walking away and no players coming in, so the fact that there were no players as a part of the Geelong deal may have hurt that one.
“Sydney, the fact that he is up there and touring is a pretty big sign. There’s a couple of players in there from Sydney that may have Carlton’s interest.
“In the end, Carlton have got that leverage that he is contracted, and worst-case scenario, if things fall over, he is playing for Carlton, which a lot of people will be excited about.
“Vossy has great relationships with the players. There has never been a conversation where I haven’t felt comfortable about the way Vossy’s going about it.
“No different to any different conversations that go on across the board. I would think that this is more of a lifestyle decision without speaking to Charlie, rather than thinking there was a rift between he and Michael Voss.
“The values, the character of Vossy (is) very very highly respected by the playing group, so I don’t think there is any issue from that point of view.”
Curnow will be holding out until the final moments of the Wednesday deadline to learn the fate of his future, as the Blues work with Sydney and Geelong to determine the best possible deal.
