{"id":292945,"date":"2023-09-18T09:49:36","date_gmt":"2023-09-18T09:49:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/?p=292945"},"modified":"2023-09-18T09:49:36","modified_gmt":"2023-09-18T09:49:36","slug":"blues-star-curnow-says-he-feels-no-extra-pressure-despite-his-quiet-finals-start","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/rugby-league\/blues-star-curnow-says-he-feels-no-extra-pressure-despite-his-quiet-finals-start\/","title":{"rendered":"Blues star Curnow says he feels no extra pressure despite his quiet finals start"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Star Carlton forward Charlie Curnow says he feels no extra pressure to perform in Saturday\u2019s preliminary final against the Brisbane Lions after being kept to just two goals so far this finals series.<\/p>\n
The 2023 Coleman medallist averaged more than three goals per game to kick 78 majors for the home and away season, but has been kept to just one goal in each of Carlton\u2019s two finals.<\/p>\n
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Charlie Curnow is happy to share the load this finals campaign.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n Demons defender Steven May received eight coaches\u2019 votes for his performance on Curnow, behind only Sam Walsh, who was given maximum votes by both Michael Voss and Simon Goodwin following Friday night\u2019s thrilling semi-final win over Melbourne.<\/p>\n But Curnow said he had faith Carlton could continue to share the load to get the job done against the Lions.<\/p>\n \u201cThroughout the season I never really thought like that [I needed to carry the team],\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe boys have shown throughout the year without certain players in the team that they can get the job done.<\/p>\n \u201cMy processes each week, it\u2019s [about] trying to create a contest and get the ball to ground and work off from there. You get to come up against the best defenders in the comp. That\u2019s the best part about finals.<\/p>\n \u201c \u2018Maysy\u2019 [Steven May] is a gun. It was a tough contest on the weekend and looking forward to this weekend. Pretty much go back to the basics. Work rate and contest is something I always look to, so I\u2019ll look to that again this week.\u201d<\/p>\n Thousands turned out to Ikon Park on Monday to watch the Blues train ahead of their first preliminary final since 2000.<\/p>\n Curnow said the players were riding a wave of support after back-to-back thrillers.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously, the outside world, outside of the footy club, it can be pretty full on,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been pretty hectic, it\u2019s been a lot of fun. You probably don\u2019t realise until after the game how the crowd was because you\u2019re so focused on getting the result. I guess it\u2019s such a tense result, those last two minutes, but until after the game you probably sit back and realise that was something really special to be a part of.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a great honour for us as players, but inside here it\u2019s the same as usual. Win or loss, you come in and figure out what you need to do better and come into the next week.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Curnow had a quiet night against Melbourne.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>AFL Photos<\/cite><\/p>\n Curnow said Harry McKay and Jack Martin would be available, adding that McKay\u2019s return would be welcomed.<\/p>\n \u201cOur role doesn\u2019t really change, it stays the same. It obviously helps me out heaps,\u201d Curnow said of McKay coming back.<\/p>\n \u201cHaving \u2018H\u2019 back in as another tall target who can draw defenders helps the whole team.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can kind of work off each other and I probably don\u2019t have to run to as many contests, which is nice, and share the loads a bit. It\u2019s always a treat when we get to play together.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Curnow in action at open training at Ikon Park on Monday.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Eddie Jim<\/cite><\/p>\n While the Blues will have to take their game on the road this week, after consecutive finals at the MCG, Curnow was confident they\u2019d have plenty of support in foreign territory.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s going to be a cool experience playing in their arena,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cRecovery\u2019s obviously huge [this week] and with travelling, going up there and making sure everyone\u2019s fresher, but I think that\u2019s something we\u2019ve shown we can do throughout the season, back it up with short breaks and with travel, so the boys will be pretty confident.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re a pretty strong side at the moment, and we know how good they are at home, so we\u2019ll have to bring our A-game.\u201d<\/p>\n Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. <\/i><\/b>Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter<\/i><\/b>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\nMost Viewed in Sport<\/h2>\n
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