CARLTON leader and veteran Ed Curnow has pointed to his work ethic getting him where he is today.

Coming into his ninth year in the Navy Blue, Curnow has been aiming to improve each and every year, more recently focusing on his technique rather than fitness.

“I’m a slow learner, the last few years I’ve realised I should be concentrating on the technique side of my game,” Curnow said.

“It’s all about looking at opportunities in your game to grow and that’s been supported by great coaches as well.”

It has been a pre-season of a different tune under Senior Coach David Teague with Curnow believing that the group has benefitted immensely from the consistency since Teague took the reigns as the interim coach in 2019. 

“That period [mid-year] was where we noticed the most change in the way we trained and the way we went about our games,” Curnow said.

“That was a huge change to go through.”

The lift in training standards has resulted in Teague's adamant belief that all players should hold a level of responsibility on the field - not just the player with the ball.

This, for Curnow and the team, has been something that has driven them to on the training track as they continue to prepare for Round 1. 

“That’s what has been coached a lot under David Teague,” Curnow said.

“It’s the other 17 blokes and what they’re doing to give that guy the best option so that we can score.

“It’s kind of everything that goes around the kicker.”

Although he’s had a seasoned career, Curnow is adamant that Sam Walsh is the most prepared player he has ever seen, noting that the whole Club took a lesson or two from his routine.

Walsh's well-documented hard work was on show during Carlton's Marsh 1 clash with Fremantle, with the young midfielder collecting 27-disposals and five clearances in a fine display. 

“He didn’t miss a session, not many players can do that, it’s pretty hard to do that and not break down, especially as an 18-year-old,” Curnow said.

“It’s a credit to the work and preparation he must do away from the footy club to be able to do that at training and in games.”

Curnow is looking forward to having Walsh join him in the leadership group, with no fear that Walsh is anything but prepared for the challenge.

“I think he’s a passionate guy and he’s got a good balance on life,” Curnow said.

“Having him a part of the group gives him a chance to develop those [leadership] skills, like he might have the opinion but sometimes he’ll just sit on it.

“I feel like leadership groups are really good for that, you develop yourself as a person.”