A fit a firing Charlie Curnow is ready to make his mark in 2017.
In his debut season, a bout of glandular fever and a knee injury kept the youngster from showcasing more of his talents.
But a goal to maximise his physical fitness during pre-season has the No.30 ready to tackle his second year head-on.
“I’ve put on weight in muscle and I feel very fit so this pre-season will hold me in good stead,” Curnow told Carlton Media.
“I’m ready to go and I can’t wait to get out there.”
The former Geelong Falcon managed six senior games last year and excited Bluebaggers with his ability to take a strong contested mark.
With his second season in arms’ reach, the 20-year-old said he hoped for more opportunities to return to the main stage.
“I’d like to get some consistency this year and play as many senior games as I can,” Curnow said.
“I just have to do my bit and perform as well as possible.”
The strongly built forward is one of many Blues youngsters to keep an eye on, with Carlton’s 2016 draftees having transitioned smoothly to the AFL to push their case for senior selection.
According to Curnow, Sam Petrevski-Seton will be one to watch, while Zac Fisher and Cameron Polson will also thrill fans.
“It’s hard to look past ‘Samo’ (Petrevski-Seton), he’s looked pretty dangerous out on the track,” he said.
“I’ve also enjoyed watching Fisher and Polson who are fast and whippy around the stoppages.
“They’re all (draftees) pretty exciting.”
In the wake of the JLT Community Series, the young Blues are focused on building match experience.
And with only one week until Carlton’s first pre-season clash, Curnow said he hoped the competition would serve as a stepping stone for the year ahead.
“My aim now is to get some good game time under my belt (over the JLT Series),” he said.
“We’ve all got a job to do but we’re looking forward to playing as a group and moulding together before Round 1.”
Carlton will face Melbourne in the first of its three pre-season hit-outs, with matches against St Kilda and Fremantle to follow.
