New Sydney CEO Matthew Pavlich caught in awkward on-air exchange over Charlie Curnow trade talks

New Sydney chief executive Matthew Pavlich has been caught in an awkward on-air exchange as he continues to juggle his media commitments with leading an AFL club.

The former Fremantle champion was announced as the surprise successor to Tom Harley as Swans CEO in August, but didn’t begin in the role until the end of the 2025 season.

With Harley well entrenched in his new position at AFL headquarters, Pavlich is now in the hot seat at Sydney — but is steering the ship while still reporting on his own club in another job.

Still working as a sports presenter for 9News Perth, the 43-year-old was forced to face questions from his own network’s reporter on the Swans’ pursuit of wantaway Carlton forward Charlie Curnow.

“The (end of) the AFL trade period is fast approaching with big names still yet to find new homes,” Pavlich read on Tuesday night.

“Live now to Owen Leonard. Owen, what’s the latest?”

Leonard proceeded to provide an update on Essendon captain Zach Merrett before moving to Curnow, whose first preference is to get to Geelong but would also be happy with a move to Sydney.

The Swans have officially offered pick No.11 in this year’s draft and their first-round pick next year, plus Ollie Florent and Will Hayward, in exchange for Curnow and pick No.22 from Carlton.

“Now, Pav, you’re a double-agent in this situation because you are Sydney’s new chief executive,” Leonard probed.

“How confident are you Curnow will be a Swan come tomorrow night?”

Stuck in the awkward scenario, Pavlich had no choice but to answer, although was careful to remain diplomatic.

“Yeah, thanks for the question, Owen,” he said with a wry smile.

“A lot of hard work has been done over the past few days and, look, we feel like we’ve put a pretty fair and reasonable offer forward, but we just have to wait now and hope that that gets it across the line.

“But that’s about all I can give you on that one, Owen.”

Curnow is contracted at Carlton until 2030.

It’s not the first time Pavlich has been forced to give a running commentary for his new club, having earlier remained in his role as an expert analyst for Fox Sports, including even for Swans games.

When his playing days came to an end in 2016, Pavlich pursued business opportunities in Perth while also juggling Fox Sports and Channel 9 commitments.