AFL

Curnow v Carlton clash could get spicy: Cripps

Feb 23, 2026

Curnow and Cripps. — Charlie Curnow and Patrick Cripps could face off in less friendly style when Sydney meet Carlton. -AAP Image

Carlton skipper Patrick Cripps is expecting fireworks when his side takes on former teammate Charlie Curnow for the first time in the AFL's season opener.

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"Everyone's talking about the build-up: Charlie versus us," Cripps said on Monday.

With Curnow coming off a four-goal haul in his first outing since joining Sydney, and star Blues defender Jacob Weitering in doubt due to a rib injury, the Swans' new spearhead shapes as a major threat when the two sides clash at the SCG on Thursday, March 5.

"It'll be a great contest," Cripps said.

"There's going to be a bit of theatre involved, no doubt. The AFL's not silly. They knew exactly how they were scheduling it."

"Every round zero, every round one, is going to be fierce â€¦ everyone gets excited for the first game of the year."

Asked whether things could boil over, Cripps said, "You'll have to tune in, mate. We'll see."

Curnow won two Coleman Medals in his decade-long stint at the Blues, but was granted his wish for a fresh start when Carlton agreed to a trade that netted them three first-round picks as well as Sydney goalkicker Will Hayward.

While the Curnow v Carlton storyline will be run and won by next Friday, the Blues expect it will take a little longer to fully adjust to life without the superstar forward.

"It's very different, obviously,. We're so used to having the two big boys," Cripps said of Curnow and 2021 Coleman Medal winner Harry McKay.

"With some of the new boys we've got in, there's a different dynamic and a new skill-set. There's probably a bit more speed on the floor, (we're) a bit less predictable."

Pre-season form is worth little, but the early signs are promising.

The Blues averaged just 78 points per game in 2025, but kicked 15 goals on their way to a 15-point win against last year's premiers Brisbane in their first practice match of 2026, with new recruits Ben Ainsworth and Hayward combining for six goals.

"It's a bit of a work in progress - it looked good last week but it's one game."

Cripps also expects talented young duo Jagga Smith and Harry Dean to make their mark early in the season.

"You don't want to heap too much expectation on them, but they're high-quality players," Cripps said.

"There are going to be a lot of number sevens (Smith's jersey number) floating around pretty soon among Carlton fans. I think they'll both play pretty early."