ED CURNOW has tonight been honoured with Life Membership of the Carlton Football Club.
The 32-year-old was inducted at the Club’s 157th Annual General Meeting on Tuesday evening, with significant service across 11 seasons in the Navy Blue.
The most senior player on the Blues’ list, Curnow qualified for Life Membership after he reached the 200-game milestone in Round 19 last year.
Curnow’s AFL journey has been exemplified by hard work and utter determination, with the combative midfielder first recruited to Adelaide via the 2007 rookie draft before he received a second chance at Carlton, landing at IKON Park as a rookie in 2011.
Making his debut in Round 1, 2011 against Richmond, Curnow has since become a stalwart of the Old Dark Navy Blue, holding credentials that date back to his first year at Carlton where he received the Best Clubman Award – an accolade he earned again in 2016.
In 2015, he was afforded the Spirit of Carlton Award for embodying the spirit of the Club both on and off the field. He also impressively achieved three consecutive podium finishes in the John Nicholls Medal from 2018–2020.
Demonstrating his impact among the playing group and the regard to which he is held in, Curnow was voted into the Blues’ leadership group for the first time in 2016, maintaining the position for the six consecutive seasons.
Joining the coveted list of Carlton Life Members, Curnow expressed his gratitude for the support he has received over more than a decade at IKON Park.
“It’s a real honour to become a Life Member of this football club and I owe it to everyone who has been a part of my journey, supporting me along the way,” Curnow said.
“I am so grateful for the rich experience I’ve had, at what is a great footy club. The support, the people I’ve met and built relationships with along the way, that is what means the most to me and what I will remember the most.
“To be a Life Member at this club, to have that connection to this place for the rest of my life, that is something I will always take with me and am very grateful to be able to share with my family.”
Carlton President Luke Sayers congratulated the veteran, acknowledging his significant contribution to all facets of the Club.
“Ed exemplifies what it means to be Carlton, and as a result, everyone at the Club couldn’t be more overjoyed than to see him recognised for his service to date in the Navy Blue,” Sayers said.
“Renowned for his effort and intensity, he is accustomed to giving his all, while bringing out the best in all of us. His journey has been one of sheer hard work, grit and determination and this award is a terrific reflection of what is truly an admirable career
“No one within the four walls of IKON Park is a stranger to Ed. He invests his time into everyone – his teammates and all staff, both within the football department and across our administration.
“We love the character that Ed is and the culture he creates at our footy club, and on behalf of the entire Carlton family, I congratulate Ed, his wife Emily and two kids William and Alice on this very well-deserved achievement.”
