“THAT’S something which is pretty special to me. It’s what drives me the most.”
Despite being on the sidelines, Charlie Curnow is savouring Carlton’s recent form.
After all, the Club has become an extension of his family.
With brother Ed in career-best form, the younger Curnow said his family sees Carlton game days as the perfect opportunity to connect as one.
“Knowing how happy you can make people by playing this game: I look at my family,” Curnow said on The Two Tones.
“I don’t reckon we would’ve caught up as a whole family much ever since dinner time after school.
“Now, every week at a Carlton game, you almost get the whole family there. It’s almost like a ritual now.”
That desire to bring pride and enjoyment to his family name is what makes Curnow tick: and he knows the feeling is mutual, regardless of form.
Despite the 2019 campaign being a frustrating one personally, family, football and fun is what is constantly front-of-mind for the enigmatic forward.
“Whether I play well or play poorly, I can see my dad’s face after the game,” he said.
“If I played poorly, he’ll probably tell me I played the best game of my life. If I play well, then he’s over the moon.
“Seeing my family after the game and how much it impacts them [is what drives me].”
As someone who brings the excitement to the Carlton masses by the week, the 22-year-old - who burst on the scene in 2017 - knows just how important the thrill factor is.
Conceding it was get lost in the constant attention and commentary, Curnow is someone who plays footy in its purest form.
“It’s pretty easy for some people to lose sight of how fun the game actually is,” he said.
“You get constant feedback from people about your game — everyone wants to be involved and wants to know what’s going on. At times, that can be difficult.
“My favourite thing about the game is playing it and training it on the track. That’s what I look forward to during the week.”
“For me it’s contest and run and then I try and build my game around that, and then if it’s to go play on a star opposition player that is part of my job."
— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) August 6, 2019
Ed has been one of our most consistent performers in 2019.#BoundByBlue