Dual All-Australian Leigh Montagna believes Carlton would be taking a “bigger picture” approach if it traded away Charlie Curnow that could bring long-term benefits after initial short-term pain.

After losing free agents Tom De Koning and Jack Silvagni to St Kilda, the Blues this week have traded in Liam Reidy (Fremantle), Campbell Chesser (West Coast) and Ben Ainsworth (Gold Coast).

But they remain central to one of the exchange period’s biggest fish in Curnow, who’s keen to join a new club.

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Carlton football boss Chris Davies on Friday said the club’s strong preference is for Curnow to remain at the club. But that hasn’t deterred rival clubs’ interest in the star forward.

“I think we can stop the narrative that Carlton is not up for trading him,” Herald Sun reporter Jon Ralph told Fox Footy’s Trading Day. “They absolutely are up for trading him. It’s just whether they find the right trade for him.”

Geelong on Thursday offered Carlton three first-round picks for dual Coleman Medallist Curnow – a deal that was swiftly knocked back by the Blues. It means if the Blues don’t hold Curnow to his contract, Sydney would be the most realistic landing spot, considering it’s reportedly prepared to offer multiple first-round picks – and, possibly, a Swans player – to the Blues.

Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay of the Blues.Source: Getty Images

It comes with the Blues expected to match bids on father-son gun Harry Dean and NGA prospect Jack Ison at next month’s national draft, while the 2026 father-son prospect Cody Walker has already committed to Carlton.

While trading away Curnow would leave a chasm, Montagna said the Blues are taking a grand scheme attitude.

“Unfortunately, if they trade Charlie Curnow, this isn’t going to be what Michael Voss would want ideally. He’s got one year to go on a contract, he’s desperate to win and push for finals,” Montagna told Trading Day.

“But I think it’s a bigger picture. I think Graham Wright has come in and the club have looked at their list, feel they’re not good enough and see the opportunity with Charlie Curnow requesting a trade to maybe get some young talent in, get a couple of first-round draft picks.

“If they can get it right and get some top-end talent in through the draft, maybe they can replenish with Jagga Smith coming back into the side and they take a few steps backwards to go forwards.”

Cats to offer huge package for Curnow | 00:57

Herald Sun reporter Scott Gullan added: “That Tasmanian draft we all know about is looming. So if you’re going to do it, you’ve got to get it now and get them in the next two years and make it happen before Tassie comes in and it drifts away.”

Montagna said the acquisition of Ainsworth from the Gold Coast Suns somewhat addresses their small/high half-forward issues, but pointed out there could be a heavy reliance on Harry McKay next season.

“If you take a look at what Carlton’s forward line could look like without Charlie Curnow next year, it is going to be a transition,” he said.

“They’re going to have Harry McKay – who did win a Coleman without Charlie Curnow in 2021 – but they are going to rely on some of the young talent coming through.

“Ashton Moir has shown some signs and they’re going to put more faith in him. Brodie Kemp was one who played forward before he got injured in Round 5 – he kicked five goals against the Western Bulldogs. They’ve got young Hudson O’Keefe, who played late in the season who might be that second ruck-forward but is still pretty raw in his development but took eight contested marks in five games.

Harry McKay of the Blues. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

“Then you’ve got a lot of guys who are on the periphery … There’s a bit of depth there, but not a lot of star quality.”

Carlton’s possible 2026 forward line

HF: Ashton Moir, Harry McKay, Zac Williams

F: Jesse Motlop, Brodie Kemp, Ben Ainsworth

Depth: Lachie Fogarty, Francis Evans, Hudson O’Keefe, Matt Cottrell, Flynn Young, Will White

Ralph said you’d be “pushing pretty hard to be glass half-full” on the Blues’ forward stocks.

“I don’t think any of the top-eight sides are quaking in their boots play against them,” he said.

“Ainsworth is just a nice goal-a-game player. He’s kicked 158 goals in 137 games – that’s a big sample size to say that he’s a modest player right now, who might be a nice additional piece for them but he’s not a superstar.”