The Carlton on-baller is set to play his 100th AFL game this weekend, against St Kilda on Sunday, and just as the Blues are showing significant improvement, he has found some of the best form of his career.

But Curnow had a rocky start to his career, being picked up by Adelaide in the 2008 rookie draft then being delisted without playing a game.

Carlton gave him a second chance in 2011 and now his younger brother Charlie has joined him at the club.

"I was always unsure and had doubts about whether I'd make it, and I still do," he said.

"I'm really proud of the effort and rapt to be at Carlton, that they gave me the opportunity."

Carlton are now tantalisingly close to breaking into the top eight, with six wins and four losses.

But Curnow insists finals football is not on the mind of Carlton players, who are just focusing on how to take on a young Saints side.

"We're just concentrating on improving every week and we're starting to get some rewards, so it's a great feeling," he said.

"We don't like to look too far ahead, like most footy clubs, we're just judging ourselves on that gradual improvement."

The 26-year-old said even though Carlton beat Brisbane on the weekend, he felt the Lions won in the centre.

"Every week something pops up and we'll review that and go out and train it," he said.

Predictions for Carlton's 2016 season were dire, with some commentators predicting they would be worse even than Essendon, a team missing 12 experienced players to suspension.

But the club has been one of the surprise improvers of 2016, with several players joining the club and new coach Brendon Bolton making an immediate impact.