Why Brereton isn’t concerned by news of Curnow undergoing knee surgery

Dermott Brereton isn’t concerned about the news that Charlie Curnow is set to undergo surgery on his knee.

The Blues announced on Saturday that the superstar forward requires a minor clean-up on his knee and at this stage will return to training in January.

While it’s another injury setback for Curnow who underwent ankle surgery post-season, Brereton doesn’t think his preparation for 2025 will be affected much given his game is well and truly in order.

SEN’s David King isn’t as optimistic as Brereton as he doesn’t like seeing players miss any minutes on the training track before Christmas and he discussed Curnow’s concern with Brereton and Sam Edmund on SEN Breakfast.

King: “Can I just ask your thoughts on Charlie Curnow because this is a man you've followed closely for a number of years?

“You said he would be the best player in the competition years ago with Mark Robinson in the Herald Sun.

“What are you expecting from him this year given the interrupted pre-season?”

Brereton: “He's just such a talent. I think he's got his game in order now. He knows what he’s doing.

“You worry about some blokes when they're still on the rise, when they do miss something in pre-season.

“But when they know their game and it has been proven time in time out, you feel like you're more comfortable if they miss a chunk or a block of pre-season.”

Edmund: “It’s just a clean-out, there’s nothing to worry about or no need to get hysterical about it.”

King: “You can’t miss minutes pre-Christmas.”

The two-time Coleman Medallist is expected to be available for Carlton’s season-opener against Richmond at the MCG on Thursday, March 13.