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<\/p>\nDanny Russell
Carlton\u2019s last-goal hero Charlie Curnow believes opponent Steven May\u2019s only split-second alternative was to lay a tackle instead of the nose-crunching bump that sidelined teammate Francis Evans with concussion on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
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Steven May is facing scrutiny after his clash with Carlton\u2019s Francis Evans on Saturday night.Credit: via Getty Images<\/p>\n
Evans had his nose bloodied and lost a tooth as he and May collided front-on while attacking the ball from different directions in the third quarter of Carlton\u2019s hard-fought eight-point victory at the MCG.<\/p>\n
Commentators believe May\u2019s intent was to win the football in an action that will test the AFL\u2019s ongoing crackdown on the game\u2019s concerning head knocks. The league\u2019s match review officer will analyse the incident on Sunday and announce if there is to be any consequence for May that afternoon.<\/p>\n
The Demon premiership defender had his hands by his side and didn\u2019t leave the ground as he charged out from full-back, while the smaller Evans was chasing the loose ball deep into the Blues\u2019 forward line.<\/p>\n
As they met the ball, May\u2019s right shoulder collected Evans across the face and sent him flying to the ground.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was pretty quick, I don\u2019t really know,\u201d Curnow said after the game. \u201cI reckon in those situations it\u2019s really hard because it\u2019s split-second.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo in the end, I don\u2019t know, maybe we\u2019re going down the path of \u2018would have liked to see Maysie do a tackle there, so he can help Frankie play out the rest of the day\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut in saying that, it\u2019s hard work out there, mate. Like, Maysie has got to change in an instant.\u201d<\/p>\n
When pressed whether May had a duty of care to stop and lay a tackle, Curnow said, \u201cI don\u2019t know, I didn\u2019t really see it that way\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I saw the review (on the big screen), I was obviously worried about Frankie and supporting him,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Experts on Channel Nine\u2019s Sunday Footy Show discussed the prospect of May copping a three-match ban from the MRO the morning after the game. Former Hawthorn and Geelong premiership player Isaac Smith said it was almost impossible to predict the outcome for May, and one factor that might count against him was the fact he didn\u2019t stay low.<\/p>\n
![\"Steven](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1752958153_881_8680e040bae4c0b804f46c7a43dd8cf7dda487abeee86391cc27369b8ef05129.gif\")
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Steven May will be under scrutiny for this incident with Carlton\u2019s Francis Evans.Credit: Fox Footy<\/p>\n
\u201cI think you can see him getting no weeks and you can see him getting four weeks,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n
Speaking after the match, Blues coach Michael Voss said both May and Evans were making a play at the ball.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe one person was one step late, which obviously \u2026 then the incident happens,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201c(I\u2019ll) let the tribunal (MRO) take care of it, really. I mean, it\u2019s up to them to be able to adjudicate what they think is fair.\u201d<\/p>\n
May later suffered a concussion when he was kneed in the head by Tom De Koning during a last-quarter marking contest and will miss next Sunday\u2019s match against St Kilda.<\/p>\n
![\"Charlie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/b5ea666ee36749673011012d2411e6880c85b4a9.jpeg\")
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Charlie Curnow marks in front of Steven May on Saturday night.Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Voss said Evans was \u201cbanged up on the nose\u201d but \u201cactually pretty good\u201d after the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s disappointed because he was playing a fantastic game of footy. He was doing an unbelievable role for us, and we obviously lost a pretty important player,\u201d Voss said.<\/p>\n
Curnow back on track after 35-day drought<\/p>\n
Danny Russell
After four long rounds without a goal, star Blues forward Charlie Curnow had a night to remember in his side\u2019s win over the Demons, including kicking the sealer in the tight victory.<\/p>\n
Curnow opened the scoring in the first 36 seconds of the game, receiving a handball from Ollie Hollands that allowed him to break a 35-day goal drought.<\/p>\n
His third major of the night was even more memorable. With two minutes on the clock, and the Blues leading by two points, Curnow took a free kick from the 50m line on a 45-degree angle and nailed the set-shot.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure it\u2019s been really frustrating for the fact that he hasn\u2019t been able to hit the scoreboard, as you\u2019d like, but he\u2019s kept turning up,\u201d coach Michael Voss said after the game.<\/p>\n
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Carlton teammates mob Charlie Curnow after he kicked the sealer.Credit: via Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cSo for Charlie to get the rewards and to be able to finish the way he did \u2026 he looked like he wanted to take that moment, which was pleasing to see, and, obviously, he was able to close out the game for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Curnow was keen to play down his own achievements after the match, highlighting that his younger teammates Flynn Young and Matt Carroll had kicked their first goals for the club.<\/p>\n
He also praised energetic forward Ashton Moir who booted a career-high four majors against the Demons.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s terrible at ping pong, table tennis, I smoked him all week, same as Will White, but he\u2019s an energetic guy,\u201d Curnow said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know how he plays? That\u2019s what he\u2019s like off the field \u2013 bouncy, energetic, always trying to make other people laugh and have a good time.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnyone with that sort of athleticism and who can find the goals I feel is going to be really good for the football club.\u201d<\/p>\n