Former Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson has floated a potential role change for Carlton star Charlie Curnow.
While Curnow has been one of the competition’s best performers in 2023, kicking 31 goals from eight games to sit second in the Coleman Medal race, Sanderson believes he could better serve the Blues up the ground.
With Carlton struggling to break sides down with their ball use, Sanderson believes Curnow could be used in a role similar to that of retired Saint Nick Riewoldt.
“One of the best kicks in this team is (Charlie) Curnow,” Sanderson said on SEN Whateley.
“There has been some commentary around potentially using him a bit differently.
“I know coaches would be reluctant to take their star players out of where they play their best footy.
“But I was just thinking how you could use Curnow differently and potentially like Nick Riewoldt.”
As an assistant coach with Geelong from 2007 to 2011, Sanderson often had to work hard on figuring out ways to stop Riewoldt’s influence as the Saints gunned for premierships throughout that era.
With Riewoldt having the ability to cover plenty of territory as well as kicking goals, Sanderson believes Curnow shares similar attributes that could see him flourish in a high forward/wing role.
“When he used to play at St Kilda because he had such a good engine, he could get up to the logos, switch across to the other wing and then run hard back inside forward 50,” Sanderson explained.
“I know coaching against Nick Riewoldt, we had no player at Geelong that could actually go with him for four quarters because he was so fit.
“It used to be Harry Taylor who was the option, but even Harry Taylor couldn't go with him for four quarters.
“So, you almost had to let him go up the ground and conserve your energy to sort of pick him back up when he got back inside forward 50 because you didn't want him marking the ball inside forward.
“Curnow has got the ability to be able to do that, get up the ground almost like Jeremy Cameron's doing for Geelong.
“Have a bit more freedom to get up the ground and maybe they're not doing that because they don't trust McKay’s goal-kicking at the moment, his confidence levels are a bit low, and you can just tell he doesn't want to take that shot at goal.”
If Curnow sits deep in the forward line, Sanderson could only pinpoint Sam Docherty and Adam Saad as elite kicks in transition and he believes that could be the issue for the Blues as they struggle to kick winning scores.
“So, if it's only Docherty and Saad (that are elite kicks), Walsh is a handballer, Cripps is a handballer, they just potentially haven't got those ball users in their side at the moment that can really take the game on,” Sanderson said.
“Maybe that's why the directive is to go a bit safer, a bit more cautious, build the ball rather than try and take those riskier forward kicks.
“But unfortunately, it's not working at the moment, it's an area of their game which is a concern.”
Carlton will hope to fire on all cylinders when they face the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.