The Blues’ young playing list was faced with a number of challenges in 2018, and as a result, finished the year with fewer wins than previous seasons.

However, the valuable experience gained by first and second-year players, coupled with the resilience built within the team, will no doubt hold the Club in good stead for years to come. 

With the side now on a break, we’re analysing each player’s year in statistics. Here’s the review for Carlton’s No. 35, Ed Curnow. 

GAMES

2018: 21
Career: 143

GOALS

2018: 5
Career: 27

BY THE NUMBERS (averages in brackets)

Disposals: 534 (25.4) Tackles: 138 (6.6) Metres gained: 5753 (273.9) Contested possessions: 214 (10.2) One percenters: 21 (1.0) Marks: 81 (3.9) Clearances: 100 (4.8) Inside 50s: 70 (3.3) Disposal efficiency: 73.6 percent.

2018 IN FOCUS

The workhorse was tireless in a tough season, fighting hard against adversity for the Blues.

Providing on-field and off-field leadership and a strong voice at training, Curnow no doubt gave guidance to new and developing Blues this year.

After a bruised larynx ended his 2017 prematurely, Curnow didn't miss a beat this season as an ever-present contributor in Carlton's midfield. He achieved a career-high for disposals in a season, averaging 25 disposals per game and only dropping below 20 twice.

Come the end of the home-and-away season, Curnow was in the top 10 for tackles in the competition, leading the Blues alongside Patrick Cripps with 138.

BEST PERFORMANCE

Curnow was especially strong early, with a season-high effort in the Blues’ first encounter with the Suns in Round 2. He amassed career-high disposals (38), effective disposals (29), kicks (19), score involvements (9) and intercepts (9).

The combative midfielder also had equal match-high marks (seven) and tackles (10), a team-high seven inside 50s and a season-high 471 metres gained.

SEASON HIGHLIGHT

The 28-year-old grabbed the record for most tackles laid in the first eight rounds of a season since the statistic was first tracked in 1999. With 74 tackles across rounds one to eight, and a career-high 14 in Round 7 against the Crows, there were plenty of hard-hitting highlights from Curnow this year.

Ultimately, it was his huge tackle on Essendon’s David Zaharakis in the final moments of Carlton’s Round 8 triumph over the arch enemy that takes the cake.