A STIRRING second half of the season will have Carlton full of confidence with 2019 coming to a close.

Familiar faces fired in Navy Blue while the Club’s emerging youngsters owned the future in a campaign which saw the Blues record seven wins for the year.

With the home-and-away season now over, we’re going through every player who featured for Carlton at senior level in 2019.

Here’s the year that was for Carlton’s No. 35, Ed Curnow.

GAMES

2019: 22
Career: 165

GOALS

2019: 9
Career: 36

KEY AFL STATISTICS (averages in brackets):

Disposals: 496 (22.5) Marks: 84 (3.8) Contested possessions: 228 (10.4) Tackles: 112 (5.1) Clearances: 102 (4.6) Metres gained: 300.9

OVERVIEW

Not only did Curnow impress with his signature tagging in 2019, but he also showed what he is capable of as an attacking midfielder.

Curnow played all 22 games this season and was consistent all year round, even getting the opportunity to captain the side for two weeks in Patrick Cripps’ absence.

The 29-year-old averaged 22.5 disposals this season, representing his fifth straight year where he has averaged 20 or more touches.

With a midfield being led by Curnow, Cripps and former skipper Marc Murphy, Bluebaggers have plenty of reasons to be excited for what this brigade can do in 2020.

BEST PERFORMANCE

Curnow played a true captain’s game in his first outing as Blues skipper against Fremantle in Round 15.

He starred in the midfield with 32 disposals, only two touches behind the on-ground leader Murphy, and a career-best 15 clearances.

The No.35 was a bull on the inside with 20 contested possessions and four tackles in the thrilling four-point win, ultimately polling two Brownlow votes for his efforts.

SEASON HIGHLIGHT

Curnow was the popular pick when he received the opportunity to be captain of Carlton in the absence of co-captains Patrick Cripps and Sam Docherty.

He led the side in Round 15 against Fremantle and Round 16 against Melbourne, getting a win and a loss under his belt as leader of the club.

Curnow has been a member of the leadership group since 2016 and was able to take it one step further in 2019. 

THEY SAID IT

After signing a one-year deal for next season, Carlton General Manager of List Management and Strategy Stephen Silvagni praised Curnow’s leadership.

“Ed has earned everything that has come his way throughout his career: he sets the example day in and day out,” Silvagni said.

“His attitude is all about the team, he puts his teammates before himself and gives his heart and soul for the Carlton Football Club.”