Daicos Delivers Again: Collingwood's Comeback Kings
Collingwood. The name itself evokes images of nail-biting finishes and clutch performances. And Saturday night's game against North Melbourne was no exception. Seriously, the Magpies were facing a crisis. They were already missing key players like Steele Sidebottom and Darcy Moore, then lost Scott Pendlebury (illness) and Bobby Hill (personal reasons) right before the game. To top it all off, star defender Brayden Maynard went down with a foot injury in the first quarter. That’s a lot of experience gone in one night!
North Takes Early Lead, Then Daicos Takes Over
North Melbourne, smelling blood, played a smart game, dominating possession throughout the first half and leading by nine points at halftime. Their game plan was clear: keep the ball, restrict Collingwood's scoring opportunities. Jy Simpkin, in a direct matchup against Nick Daicos, even out-possessed him in the first half. Honestly, I was starting to get a little nervous. But then... the third quarter happened.
Nick Daicos, who had been relatively quiet early on (only 10 disposals in the first half), exploded. He doubled his possession count in the third, finishing the game with a game-high 38. It wasn’t a solo effort though. Jamie Elliott had a blinder, kicking five goals for the match. The combination of Daicos' brilliance and Elliott's precision changed the entire momentum of the game.
The final quarter? Collingwood completely took over. Eight goals to one. A 45-point win (15.18 (108) to 9.9 (63)). It was almost unbelievable considering how things were looking. It was another classic Collingwood surge. It reminds you why their nerve holds true.
- Key takeaways from the game:
- Nick Daicos' second-half dominance (38 disposals, 12 inside 50s)
- Jamie Elliott's five-goal haul
- Collingwood's incredible fourth-quarter surge
- Collingwood's resilience despite numerous injuries and late withdrawals
The Daicos Brothers and Team Sacrifice
It wasn’t just Nick’s heroics; his brother Josh also had a stellar game, proving that the Daicos genes are seriously powerful in football terms. But Coach Craig McRae highlighted the team's willingness to make sacrifices for Nick, often meaning other players will sacrifice their own stats to create space and opportunities for him. That's the kind of team unity that wins premierships.
The Brownlow Buzz
Nick Daicos is a serious Brownlow Medal contender, and performances like Saturday night's only strengthen his claim. He’s currently one of the favourites, and with the Magpies sitting comfortably at the top of the ladder, it’s an exciting prospect.
A Surprise Twist: Daicos' Kick Rating
Here's something unexpected: despite his brilliance, Champion Data, the AFL's official stats provider, has surprisingly ranked Daicos as one of the worst kickers in the league. They analyze the difficulty of each kick and its accuracy. It seems even superstars have areas they can improve! This just adds another layer to Daicos' overall incredible game, he can dominate despite some apparent weaknesses!
Looking Ahead
Collingwood faces Adelaide next, and Crows coach Matthew Nicks is openly considering tagging Daicos. Will it work? It’s a tough challenge, given Daicos’ ability to evade close attention, but the Crows are looking for a way to finally break their losing streak against the Magpies. It's bound to be one heck of a game!
One thing's for sure: Nick Daicos continues to be a player you just can't take your eyes off. What a game!
