Two clubs remain alive in the Charlie Curnow hunt, with one widely tipped to ultimately put a winning offer forward for the wantaway spearhead.

But between the two sides, there are varying levels of difficulty in terms of arranging a trade — and publicly, the Blues remain stout on the idea he won’t be dealt.

Geelong was said to be his desired destination, and the Cats reportedly came to the table with a massive trade offer on Thursday evening.

However, they were initially considered not to have the trade collateral to offer that Sydney does this period.

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While some have doubted an actual deal will eventuate, on Thursday, AFL Media’s Riley Beveridge provided a beacon of considerable hope for Swans and Cats supporters.

“Having been 50-50 on Monday, I am now confident a deal will get done,” Beveridge said on AFL Trade Radio of the chances Curnow departs Carlton.

Foxfooty.com.au explores three realistic deals that the Swans could offer the Blues, and one that the less-likely Cats could lob, to attain Curnow by close-of-business on October 15.

MCG looking at major $2 billion upgrade | 01:44

SYDNEY SWANS

The Swans require Curnow’s services more desperately than the Cats, needing to make a big acquisition in attack to help this list maximise its premiership potential.

Resident key forwards Joel Amartey, Logan McDonald and Hayden McLean haven’t been consistently trustworthy as a combination, nor have they been able to stay on the park recently.

Sydney has the best chance of landing Curnow due to the bevy of assets it could reasonably part with.

The Blues would surely target, at minimum, the no.11 pick in any trade with the Swans, though as many as four matched bids on academy and father-son prospects — Gold Coast-linked pair Zeke Uwland and Dylan Patterson, Brisbane’s Dan Annable and Carlton father-son prospect Harry Dean — should mean that selection will likely become no.15 on draft night.

It’s also worth noting, as has been well-documented, that this year’s intake is weaker than other drafts, hence picks this November hold less value.

Hypothetical no.1

Sydney gets: Charlie Curnow

Carlton gets: Will Hayward, Pick 11, 2026 first-round pick

It’s widely acknowledged Curnow is worth two first-round picks and a player, so that should be a baseline for any deal.

Here, they get Pick 11 and a future first-rounder, which hypothetically could come later in the order should the Swans, as expected, bounce back up the ladder.

Hayward, 26, has had his name linked in trade speculation, and prospectively he’d add some long-term attacking firepower next to Coleman medallist Harry McKay.

Despite being contracted for a further four seasons, if push comes to shove in the latter stages of the exchange window, the Swans’ hand could be forced.

Mcvee a docker, Starcevich an Eagle | 00:32

Hypothetical no.2

Sydney gets: Charlie Curnow, 2026 third-round pick

Carlton gets: Ollie Florent, Pick 11, Pick 32, 2026 first-round pick

Here, the Swans get a future pick back with Curnow in exchange for getting Pick 32 with two firsts. That’s because Florent isn’t as valuable an asset as Hayward.

This scenario could just as easily see someone such as Justin McInerney go instead of Florent, with both players possessing similar traits, but Florent’s name has been in rumours.

Like Florent, McInerney is a quality ball user, but he’s also very pacy in transition — which the Blues need more of coming out of their defensive half.

Michael Voss has previously spoken about the need for good decision-makers who can use the footy effectively and be two-way runners.

Hypothetical no.3

Sydney gets: Charlie Curnow

Carlton gets: Logan McDonald, Pick 11, 2026 first-round pick

In this circumstance, the Blues get a key forward replacement for Curnow in McDonald — instead of the mid-sized Hayward — in addition to the baseline two first-rounders.

McDonald, 23, hasn’t maximised his potential in five years in the Harbour City since being picked at no.4 overall in 2020, but a fresh start teaming up with McKay at Princes Park could do wonders.

In saying that, McDonald, who’s contracted with the Swans for a further three years, hasn’t been linked to any sort of move this year.

West Coast Pick two could see change | 02:48

GEELONG CATS

Kardinia Park had been touted as the dual Coleman medallist’s most desired landing spot.

While it was incredibly difficult to see the Cats going to extraordinary lengths to arrange a deal, a shock move has since emerged which could see him land in Geelong.

The Cats have offered three first-round picks to the Blues for Curnow, according to reports in an all-in, historic play for the superstar forward.

But would picks alone be enough to appease Carlton? If a player/s has to be involved, Sydney has slightly more obvious options below the genuine superstars.

Still, three first-rounders is better than anything Sydney was offered – nothing.

Geelong had offered its Pick 19 for Rowan Marshall in negotiations with St Kilda, but talks stalled.

It’s near impossible to see how the Cats get both Curnow and Marshall. And their blockbuster offer could signal Curnow is suddenly the priority.

Geelong doesn’t need Curnow as desperately as Sydney does. But more pertinently, they weren’t considered to hold the capital required to recruit him.

The Cats’ No.19 draft pick — which is set to slide down at least four spots due to earlier matched bids — looked en route to St Kilda in the deal for Marshall.

He was previously Geelong’s priority target, but now it looks likely Curnow could be partnered with close mate and business partner Bailey Smith now stars for.

Geelong football boss Andrew Mackie said pre-trade period regarding a possible trade for Curnow: “Ultimately, Carlton has to be the one to determine that market, not us. We’ve got to work out whether we can get a deal done. We don’t want to drag things out if it’s not possible, too.”

The club admitted earlier this week that a trade would be difficult to pull off, so for the Cats, despite the mammoth reported offer, we have proposed one hypothetical here — presuming the likes of Shannon Neale and Sam De Koning are absolutely off limits.

Hypothetical

Geelong gets: Charlie Curnow

Carlton gets: Lawson Humphries, Ollie Henry, 2026 first-round pick, 2027 first-round pick

At first glance, this looks like more than it really is.

The Cats’ first-rounders in the next two years figure to be pretty low in the order, and Humphries and Henry as assets aren’t as valuable as the ones Sydney has to offer.

But in saying that, Humphries has shown he’s a classy mover and ball user in the back half, while Henry could offset some of the goalkicking the Blues lose with Curnow.

Humphries would be hard to pry out, but Henry fell out of favour under Chris Scott this year, playing 15 senior games after 23 last year and 22 in 2023.

But again; both of these players are contracted at Geelong and haven’t indicated a desire to leave the club and there’s also a whopping deal reportedly ripe for the taking.