Inspirational Charlie Curnow ends Carlton’s finals drought

Aug 19, 2023, 03:14 AM ET

Carlton will play AFL finals for the first time in a decade after Coleman medallist Charlie Curnow inspired a come-from-behind four-point win over Gold Coast.

Trailing by 40 points after a lacklustre first quarter at Heritage Bank Stadium on Saturday, Curnow booted five majors as the Blues overcame their poor start to claim a 13.13 (91) to 13.9 (87) victory.

The win was fifth-placed Carlton’s ninth in a row and confirms the Blues as finalists for the first time since 2013.

Curnow was the spark for a second-quarter comeback, kicking four goals as the Blues cut the deficit to just two at halftime.

With his team still trailing in the final quarter, Curnow again stepped up, kicking a monster goal off a couple of steps from the boundary outside 50 before finding fellow big gun Harry McKay with a long kick to put Carlton in front.

Mathew Owies extended that lead with his second of the day to ensure Brandon Ellis’s response from the Suns was mere consolation as Noah Anderson’s late effort drifted for a behind.

Curnow’s bag of five goals was the best in the game, with Owies, Jesse Motlop and former Sun Jack Martin kicking two each.

Suns’ veteran David Swallow booted a career-high four goals for the hosts, with Alex Sexon and Ben Ainsworth kicking two goals apiece for the Blues.

Three-time premiership winner Damien Hardwick, expected to be named as the Suns’ new head coach next week, was given a glimpse of Gold Coast’s potential in the opening period.

The hosts turned in one of their best quarters of the season, booting the first five goals of the match before Swallow’s second of the day after the siren gave them a healthy 6.5 (41) to 1.2 (8) lead at the first turn.

The way the momentum shifted in the second quarter showed the work Hardwick will need to do to turn that potential into consistency.

The Blues run of six unanswered goals brought the visitors straight back into the contest by halftime.

The Blues hit the front for the first time in the match just two minutes into the third quarter through Motlop’s snap after some smart work by Tom De Koning.

Carlton threatened to pull away, dominating the inside-50 count in the third term but could only kick 1.6 for the quarter, and their profligacy was punished when Swallow’s third major of the day ensured the hosts led by just one point at the final change.

Swallow’s fourth and a cool finish by Mabior Chol had the Suns in control before Curnow stepped up once more and swung the match a final time in the Blues favour.