Edward Curnow Biography

Ed Curnow announces his retirement, effective at the end of the 2023 season.

"Ed meant so much to so many people who are connected to our football club and provided much-needed experience for the playing group. He's been here through the tough times, put his body through a lot but the club will forever be a better place for having Ed Curnow as an integral part of it," Carlton coach Michael Voss said of Curnow.

Carlton select Edward Curnow with pick No.10 in the 2022 Rookie Draft.

On the eve of his 200th game, Ed Curnow reflects on his tough path to becoming an AFL player.

"I was always passionate and wanted to be an AFL player and I was still really disappointed that Adelaide didn't give me that chance," Curnow said earlier this week ahead of his 200th game," Curnow said.

"That really drove me. The first year at Box Hill, I didn't get drafted. I didn't play that well, but I still probably should've got drafted after one year. I remember being really disappointed and thinking about throwing it in and going overseas like other guys my age, but I stuck at it for one more year and it really paid off."

Just a year after winning the NAB AFL Rising Star award, teenage sensation Sam Walsh has joined Carlton's leadership group.

Patrick Cripps and Sam Docherty have been named co-captains for the second straight year, flanked by veterans Marc Murphy and Ed Curnow.

Another former No.1 draft pick, Jacob Weitering, and veteran defender Liam Jones join Walsh as the three new additions to the seven-man group.

"This is a significant step in the growth of our football club with our emerging generation of talent now ready to step into senior leadership positions," Docherty said.

"Weiters, Jonesy and Walshy are exceptional leaders in everything they do, whether it be on the training track, during games and living the values of our football club ? that is why they have earned their place in the leadership group.

"All three of them are born for the role, are quality Carlton people and we are excited to see them continue to grow as footballers and as individuals."

Patrick Cripps wins his third John Nicholls Medal as Carlton's best and fairest for the 2019 season.

Cripps polled 143 votes to become just the eighth player in the club's history to win three Blues best and fairests, with Ed Curnow (138 votes) and defender Lachie Plowman (134) close behind.

"To have won three John Nicholls Medals at just 24 is amazing – he now puts himself alongside some of the club’s best and he thoroughly deserves that," Carlton coach David Teague said.

"He is just such a competitor who works tirelessly to get his job done week in and week out, he sets the standards for our group and works to get the best out of not only himself but the whole group.

"It’s exciting for us to think that he has only just played 100 games and we think his best footy is still ahead of him."

Ed Curnow signs a one-year extension with Carlton to remain at the club until the end of 2020.

Ed Curnow is relishing his new role up forward as part of Carlton's reshaped attack, working in tandem with brother Charlie Curnow.

"Getting the opportunity to be involved in (scoring) chains with Charlie and maybe get on the end of a few and give him the ball a few times will be good," Ed said.

"We have a tight relationship, we're pretty competitive with each other.

"We also communicate quite aggressively, which I think sets a good example for the rest of the team."

Patrick Cripps caps a career-best 2018 season with his second John Nicholls Medal, dominating the club's best and fairest count at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Veteran defender Kade Simpson polled 108 votes in second, while Ed Curnow and Charlie Curnow tied for third spot with 98 votes each.

Carlton midfielder Ed Curnow is found guilty of intentional umpire contact by the AFL Appeal Board and hit with a one-match suspension, but his younger brother Charlie Curnow has been cleared of the same charge.

Both Curnows were cleared of intentional umpire contact by the Tribunal on Tuesday night and fined $1000 after pleading guilty to the lesser charge of careless contact, decisions which prompted an appeal by AFL football operations manager Steve Hocking.

"We had a very reasonable jury on Tuesday that found (Charlie) guilty of careless contact with the umpire and yet (it's) pretty frustrating that same jury has been found to be unreasonable when they found Ed guilty of that same charge," Carlton football manager Andrew McKay said.

"So to come here is a little bit confusing. We'll cop it on the chin and move on."

The AFL will appeal downgraded umpire contact findings against Carlton brothers Ed Curnow and Charlie Curnow, describing the sanctions imposed as "manifestly inadequate".

Magpies coach Collingwood coach says Geelong have reason to question the AFL Tribunal's decision to clear Carlton players Ed Curnow and Charlie Curnow of their separate intentional umpire contact charges, after Tom Hawkins was dealt a one-game suspension for similar contact.

"If I was Geelong I'd be bleeding … absolutely bleeding," he told SEN radio.

"Because Hawkins handled himself so well, I thought the club handled it well. You'd be scratching your head wondering, 'Why be so gracious when it's not actually supported or followed through?'"

Patrick Dangerfield slams the Tribunal's decision to downgrade Carlton players Ed Curnow and Charlie Curnow's intentional umpire contact charges a week after Tom Hawkins was slapped with a one-game ban.

"I think it was farcical, to be honest," Dangerfield told SEN radio.

"It's a couple of years running now that Tom has worn the brunt of the MRP. Then the following weeks the same thing has happened and it hasn't been consistent.

"I think we're all scratching our heads as to where is the consistency because I'm a little confused."

Ed Curnow and Charlie Curnow successfully challenge charges of intentional umpire contact at the Tribunal.

Both the Curnow brothers pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of careless contact with an umpire and were fined $1000 by the Tribunal.

Charlie Curnow was charged with making intentional contact with umpire Matt Stevic during the third quarter of Carlton's victory over Essendon at the MCG last Saturday, with his case referred directly to the Tribunal by Match Review Officer Michael Christian.

The same happened with Ed Curnow after he lightly touched Nathan Williamson in the chest with his right hand, about five minutes before his brother.

Ed Curnow is likely to come under scrutiny after placing a hand on umpire Nathan Williamson's chest during the Blues' 13-point win over Essendon as an umpiring decision was being explained to him.

Ed Curnow has made a full recovery from a serious bruised larynx injury.

"He saw the surgeon in January and he got the tick of approval. He has been doing the full box and dice (at training) and will be right to play," Blues football manager Andrew McKay.

Carlton coach Brendon Bolton says he plans to give Ed Curnow more tim ein the midfield in 2018.

"With his running capacity we see him being able to pinch-hit on the ball. So we'll do that this year, we'll give him some spurts on ball," Bolton said.

"But we don't want to do that too much, or it could become detrimental to him learning his forward craft. He is still very young."

Marc Murphy will skipper the Blues for a sixth consecutive season in 2018.

Patrick Cripps and Sam Docherty are Murphy's new deputies in an eight-man leadership group including Kade Simpson, Ed Curnow and fresh faces Matthew Kreuzer, Alex Silvagni and Lachie Plowman.

Ed Curnow's chances of returning from a bruised larynx before the end of the season are fading, with a specialist ruling him out for another four rounds.

"Ed Curnow saw the specialist yesterday. (He's) still going to be out for four weeks which is disappointing and probably longer than we first thought," Carlton football manager Andrew McKay said.

"We're just going to have to play that one by ear."

Ed Curnow will miss up to another four weeks with a bruised larynx.

"He's got some significant bruising around [the throat] and the specialists are telling us that he's going to be unavailable for up to four weeks," Carlton football manager Andrew McKay said.

At the age of 30, Dennis Armfield has been added to Carlton's leadership group for the first time, taking the spot of the retired Andrew Walker.

Marc Murphy has retained the captaincy at the Blues with veteran defender Kade Simpson the vice-captain for the third year overall.

Patrick Cripps, Sam Docherty, Bryce Gibbs and Ed Curnow round out the seven-player leadership group.

"In 2016, we set about building leadership density across our list. This year, we are sticking to the roadmap and ensuring there is a consistent level of leadership across the board," Blues coach Brendon Bolton said.

"With only one change to our leadership group for 2017, we are building on the foundations that were set last season."

Marc Murphy is reappointed as Carlton captain for 2016, but the Blues have overhauled their leadership group with the skipper and Bryce Gibbs the only survivors from the 2015 line-up.

In the new-look team, veteran Kade Simpson will take over as sole vice-captain from Murphy's 2015 joint deputies Bryce Gibbs and Michael Jamison.

Youngsters Patrick Cripps, 20, and Sam Docherty, 22, are among five additions to the 2016 group, as the Blues' next generation of leaders begins to emerge.

Hard-running midfielder Ed Curnow, 26, also joins the leadership team for the first time, while former members Simpson, 31, and Andrew Walker, 29, return after one-year absences.

Walker said Murphy had always loomed as the logical captaincy choice.

"After the tough year that we had and the amount of scrutiny that he copped I think the natural thing would have been for somebody to go into their shell," Walker said.

"But he has always stood up and really been at the forefront for the Carlton footy club. He copped a lot of scrutiny, but I think the way he was able to come out of it and the amount of confidence he's still got to lead the footy club is going to be great for us going forward."

Ed Curnow signs a contract extension that will keep him at the Blues until the end of 2017.

"Curnow has made a huge contribution to our midfield this season and plays his role for the team week in, week out," Carlton football operations manager Andrew McKay said.

Chris Judd will miss five weeks with a hamstring injury while Ed Curnow is expected to be sidelined for six weeks with a six weeks after fracturing a fibula.

Curnow's lower leg was slammed into the goal post during a tackle in the final term of the Blues' clash against the Western Bulldogs.

Brock McLean continues to struggle to cement a place in the Blues' senior side as he makes way for rookie Ed Curnow coming back from injury.

"It's unfortunate for Brock that he's lost his spot, but he lost his spot to the injured player that he replaced," Carlton football manager Stephen Icke said.

"Ed's form was very, very good up to the point that he got injured and Brock basically came in for Ed, so given that he was in the team for Ed, when Ed was available, then Brock comes out."

Carlton rookie Ed Curnow is making the most of his second chance and hopes to repay Carlton with quality on-field form.

"I was just thankful for the opportunity. It's taken a while, but since I've been at Carlton, I've just really enjoyed my footy," Curnow says.

"I've had a good run. It was great news to hear that I'd been rookied first and then to get the call up for the first game was great. I've had a bit of a good run and hopefully I can keep it going."

Edward Curnow makes his AFL debut for Carlton at the MCG with 24 disposals (13 kicks and 11 handballs), 5 marks, 7 tackles and a goal in a 20-point win over Richmond.