Charlie Curnow is hopeful that he has played both his last game under Michael Voss and in a Carlton jumper, with a report on Monday night claiming he would be willing to take a pay cut to play elsewhere next year.
The 28-year-old has been subjected to speculation about his future this year amid a difficult season on-field for him and the Blues.
On Monday morning, Carlton coach Michael Voss admitted to SEN that Curnow had expressed at his exit meeting that he was “open” to a trade.
But a report from Seven’s Caroline Wilson has suggested Curnow’s desire to get out of Ikon Park may be far more serious than the coach was willing to let on, and may even be linked to the coach's relationship with his star player.
MORE: Carlton eyeing off yet another first-round pick for departing star
"It's my understanding that Charlie Curnow is, I would go as far as to say, desperate to get out of the Carlton Football Club," Wilson told The Agenda Setters.
"Charlie Curnow is so keen to get out of Carlton... he is happy to play for less money.
"It's wrong to say he's fallen out with the club, he just does not get on with the coach. He doesn't want to play for Michael Voss anymore.
"He is unhappy. He's not happy with the coach. He wants to leave the club and there are three clubs he's looking at."
Curnow initially denied rumours he was seeking an exit when they first reared their head around the Blues’ round 20 loss to Hawthorn, but reporting since has exposed that the two-time Coleman medallist had told the club at his exit meeting last week that he would like a trade.
The key forward faces an uphill battle in terms of facilitating a move, with the Blues able to keep him to his contact until the end of 2029, which Voss maintains is currently the club’s stance.
“Our position is pretty clear. It’s been stated - I don’t even know publicly whether we’ve said anything - but he’ll be at Carlton in 2026,” Voss said when asked about the possibility of a trade on Monday morning.
If Carlton change their mind, Sydney, loaded with a number of high-value assets, are positioned as the frontrunner to potentially meet the Blues’ demands, with Gold Coast and Geelong also still in the race.
Last week, Seven’s Mitch Cleary reported that Curnow’s management had reached out to Swans star Tom Papley’s camp about a potential move to the Blues, which was quickly knocked back.
On Monday, Cleary also reported that Curnow had met with Sydney coach Dean Cox about a potential move.
Charlie Curnow met with Sydney coach Dean Cox about a potential trade before departing for the USA on holidays@7NewsMelbourne @7NewsSydney @7AFL
— Mitch Cleary (@cleary_mitch) September 1, 2025