A pair of premiership coaches believe the Blues shouldn’t look to rile up Charlie Curnow on Thursday night.

Plus, the Tasmania Devils have unveiled their inaugural playing guernseys.

Watch every match of every round of the Premiership Season LIVE and ad-break free during play on FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.

WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.

Charlie Curnow takes centre stage at the SCG on Thursday night as Sydney and Carlton open the season, and whether or not the Blues physically target Curnow will be a big watch.

The spearhead forward opted out of Carlton’s cause last year while under contract, desperately seeking – and granted – a last-minute trade to the Swans.

And despite Blues coach Michael Voss’ commentary around the need to not let the narrative distract his playing group in the season opener, spotfires are almost certain to erupt, with Will Hayward and Ollie Florent also coming up against their old side.

Former West Coast coach Adam Simpson, who’s working at Carlton this season in a part-time mentorship role, offered his thoughts on if the Blues players should target Curnow.

“It’s probably a bit old-school to say ‘we’re going to put the bullseye’,” he said on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 on Wednesday night.

“We’ve all had games, back in the day, when there’s a bullseye on someone, and they’re the target player … I’d let it go.

“Obviously, there are some things that have happened that I’ve got no idea about, but from a playing point of view, this is a locker room thing.

“I don’t really think it’s from a club point of view, and from a planning point of view, it’s ‘How do we stop him kicking five?’

“But from an on-field relationship point of view, it’s over to the players, but you just wouldn’t want to cross any lines to the point where you’re taking the focus off the game.”

Retired Sydney premiership coach John Longmire agreed with Simpson’s sentiment.

“I think you’ve got to know the sort of person that Charlie is,” Longmire said.

“I tend to agree with ‘Simmo’, I wouldn’t be going near it too much, and just letting things unfold naturally without necessarily building it up.

“The build-up is big enough as it is; you probably don’t need any extra.”

It comes after former Carlton captain Marc Murphy tipped “bad blood” to boil over on Thursday night.

“I think it’s a big grudge match with a couple of Sydney players coming to play for Carlton and Charlie Curnow, who just wanted to opt out,” Murphy told ABC Melbourne’s ‘AFL Monday’.

“That is fair enough, that’s his right, he played 10 years for the footy club. But there will be a bit of bad blood in the first five or six minutes.

“I reckon there will be a few little spotfires here or there.”

Remembering Dennis Cometti | 03:40

DEVILS GUERNSEYS UNVEILED

The Tasmania Devils have unveiled their inaugural home and clash guernseys as they prepare to enter the VFL and VFLW this year.

On Wednesday, the Apple Isle club released green and white strips, with both emboldened by the Devils head.

The Devils unveil their inaugural VFL and VFLW guernseys. Image: Tasmania Devils on X.Source: FOX SPORTSThe Devils unveil their inaugural VFL and VFLW guernseys. Image: Tasmania Devils on X.Source: FOX SPORTS

“The launch of our first playing jumper is another big moment for our club,” Devils CEO Brendon Gale said.

“We are looking forward to our men and women running out in this new kit that is a great blend of our past and our future.

“We are thankful for the fan feedback in designing the strip, there is a lot of thought in the elements which we know are meaningful for our athletes and hopefully our fans to.

“Over the course of our journey we will have many jumpers that will take the field, alongside our Foundation Jumper it is great to launch this one today and we look forward to it debuting next month.”

The green strip will make its first official appearance when the Devils host Coburg in the clubs’ VFL season opener on March 21 at North Hobart Oval.