JUST when one Curnow was hard enough for opposition defences, Carlton coach Brendon Bolton has added another.  

Older brother Ed, fresh off his most prolific year as a midfielder, averaging 25.4 disposals, has been thrown forward to harness his competitiveness in a young forward half.

It will allow the 29-year-old to team up with brother Charlie, the explosive forward eight years his junior who is ready for greater heights after a career-best pre-season.

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"I'm really pumped," Ed told AFL.com.au.

"Getting the opportunity to be involved in (scoring) chains with Charlie and maybe get on the end of a few and give him the ball a few times will be good.

"We have a tight relationship, we're pretty competitive with each other.

"We also communicate quite aggressively, which I think sets a good example for the rest of the team."

Admitting that his marking on the lead as a forward is still a work in progress, Ed will get another chance to fine tune his craft against Collingwood in Morwell on Monday.

With the arrival of Sam Walsh and Will Setterfield, plus the growth of midfielders Paddy Dow, Sam Petrevski-Seton and Zac Fisher, Ed is more than happy to relinquish the onball reins.

"I might still go to that (midfield) role at stages during the year, but I think it (forward) just gives me more flexibility, and the team," Curnow said.

"We've got a lot of new players at the club, players we've traded-in or drafted with high picks that are midfielders, so they're ready to go.

"Bolts saw my running ability and contest work and thought that it would suit the forward line.

"I'm working with the smalls, (Michael) Gibbons, (Cameron) Polson, Dave Cuningham, even Setterfield when he's coming forward, and we're just trying to put that pressure.

"I'm putting in a lot of effort to try and make it work. I'm finding it pretty challenging, it's different, but it's exciting."

Curnow was last week added to the new-look AFLPA board after a number of seasons as an active delegate for the Blues.