In the final minutes of the 2025 AFL Trade Period, Sydney secured two-time Coleman Medallist Charlie Curnow from Carlton in a blockbuster deal.

After 149 games and 313 goals with the Blues, Curnow is set to don the red and white, with the Swans hoping his arrival will elevate their forward line into serious premiership contention.

The deal in detail

Sydney received:

  • Charlie Curnow
  • Picks 31 and 42 in the 2025 draft
  • A 2027 second-round pick tied to Carlton

Carlton received:

  • Forward Will Hayward
  • Sydney’s first-round picks in 2025, 2026 and 2027

The trade was confirmed around 7:27pm on Trade Deadline Day after reportedly stalling until the final minutes.

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Why Curnow wanted out

Curnow’s departure from Carlton had been looming. Despite a long contract, he made it clear he was ready for a change after several challenging seasons. He also met with the Swans earlier in the week to tour their facilities and make preliminary arrangements.

Inside Carlton, the move was viewed as inevitable once the asset-return threshold was reached. Club management emphasised the need to rebuild and capitalise while Curnow’s trade value was at its peak.

What Sydney gain

  • A proven key forward who has led the league in goalkicking twice, bringing instant focal-point strength inside 50.
  • A forward dimension that aligns with the Swans’ ambition to return to the Grand Final window rather than merely contend.
  • A cultural and experience boost — Curnow has shown the ability to deliver under pressure, which compliments Sydney’s existing structure.

What Carlton gain & lose

Gain: A haul of high draft picks and a quality young forward in Hayward give them flexibility to reshape their list, accelerate their rebuild phase, and invest in youth.
Lose: Their marquee forward, foundational goal-scorer and one of the most physical presence players in the league. Replacing 313 goals and taking out the certainty of his frontline dominance is no small task.

Strategic ripple effects

  • Sydney’s message: They are signalling “we’re here now”. Bringing in Curnow at the expense of multiple first-round picks shows conviction.
  • Carlton’s reset: By trading Curnow and gathering early picks, the Blues appear ready to pivot to a new era—less about star retention and more about list-building for 2028-29.
  • Wider league effect: This deal underscores how forward stocks are winning trades and how clubs with window-urgency are willing to spend heavy draft capital to accelerate.

The bottom line

This move is landmark. For Sydney, acquiring Charlie Curnow is a coup that could tilt their forward power into elite company. For Carlton, parting with him might hurt short-term, but the return sets them up for longer-term flexibility. The full impact of this trade will ripple through drafts, list strategies and finals budgets for years to come.