Charlie Curnow may have been Sydney’s big acquisition in the trade period, but star midfielder Errol Gulden is excited to see how he leads what could be the club’s “four-headed monster” inside 50.
The Swans gave up three first-round picks and forward Will Hayward to land the Carlton key forward, who has already impressed teammates at training.
Gulden said having Curnow at the club reminded him of the presence all-time great Lance Franklin brought to the Swans.
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Charlie Curnow in a Swans polo. AFL Photos via Getty Images
“He’s just come in and he’s telling us what he wants and where he wants the ball and how he wants us to deliver the ball inside 50 to him, and I guess similar to Lance (Franklin) he’s just a massive presence, and seeing him come out of the square is pretty good,” Gulden told reporters on Wednesday.
“The work he’s been able to do for the other boys is great, too, and hopefully we’re going to have a four-headed monster down there with the key forwards we’ve got.
“Charlie, I imagine, will get the best key defender most weeks, so that’ll do wonders for the other forwards, too.”
Sydney didn’t have to give up any of their existing key forwards in Hayden McLean, Joel Amartey or Logan McDonald to land Curnow, hence the idea of all four playing together.
Amartey has kicked nine goals in a game on one occasion, showing glimpses of stardom, and McLean has developed into a handy forward-ruck role player.
However, the one impressing Gulden in particular is former top-five draft pick McDonald.
The 23-year-old missed the entire 2025 season with an ankle injury but is back in full training.
“He’s been flying. Hasn’t been much spoken about him and I’m happy for it to stay that way because he might be a bit of a secret weapon for us this year,” Gulden said.
“People kind of forget with him not playing any footy this year how much of a weapon he is for us.
“Having Charlie here will help him out, too. He’ll learn from him. He’s looking really good on the track and he works super hard on his craft and he’s really dedicated and has an amazing footy brain. I’m really bullish on what he’s going to do next year.”
Logan McDonald at Sydney training. Getty
Of course, when Gulden, Curnow and the Swans face Carlton at the SCG in Opening Round, it’s going to be bitter-sweet.
They will come up against Hayward and defender Ollie Florent, both of whom were forced out the door to make room for the Carlton star.
“Nothing’s going to change off the field. They’re still two of my good mates,” Gulden said.
“I’m hopefully going to see them before we play and I wish them nothing but the best, but ultimately when the ball is bounced in that first game they’re playing for Carlton, so it’ll be on.”
Questions externally have been raised over the future of Sydney captain Callum Mills, and whether he may pass the leadership mantle on to somebody else this off-season.
Gulden has shown captaincy potential.
“It’s something I’m working on consciously. I look up to Mills and Dane Rampe and other boys around the club and they’re great examples of what I strive to want to be like when I’m a little bit older,” he said.
“It’s a challenging thing being a leader. It’s extremely hard. You’ve got to be setting the right example and saying the right thing at the right time.
“It’s something I’m working on and I’ve definitely got scope to improve.”