AFL superstar Nick Daicos of Collingwood has cemented his status as one of the league’s most dynamic young talents after a match-winning standout performance against Carlton, and he’s now pushing to retain his flexible dual-position role that draws direct advice from his football royalty father Peter Daicos.
In a tense Thursday night clash, Daicos turned the tide of the game in a spectacular final-quarter comeback that lifted the Magpies to a narrow five-point win over the Blues. While primarily a starting midfielder, Daicos spent stretches of the decisive final term resting inside Collingwood’s 50-metre arc as a forward, a tactical shift that paid immediate dividends for his side. He notched one goal from his own boot as a midfielder, and played a critical role in setting up two more majors to spark the Magpies’ late comeback.
For Daicos, experimenting with the forward role is more than just a tactical adjustment: it’s a chance to put guidance from his father, legendary AFL forward Peter Daicos, into real-game practice. “I love playing up forward and I think it gives us a different look as a team,” Daicos told reporters post-game. “It also allows more players to roll through the midfield for us. We’ve got so many strong midfielders. Being a dynamic team, players switching positions, it works in our favour and whatever the coach thinks, wherever he thinks my best position, I’m happy to play.”
The young star added that he has learned the nuances of forward play directly from his father’s decades of experience in the league. “I get a lot of forward craft from Dad and I love it. I think anytime I watch his highlights, he was an amazing forward with such good craft. Anytime he gives me footy advice in general I love listening because I think he’s one of the smartest football people I’ve come across. I am very lucky to have him in my corner.”
Collingwood’s comeback relied on a seven-goal final quarter that overcame a sluggish start in front of goal that had left the side trailing heading into the final break. Daicos acknowledged that while the team’s ability to deliver under pressure is a major strength, the playing group will review why their attacking momentum has failed to materialize earlier in recent matches.
“Absolutely, that’s something we’ll definitely look through today, is how do you find that balance of trying to attack,” Daicos said. “We don’t want to be down heading into the last quarter … we want to be proactive with it, come out this week in the first quarter and kick seven goals. We’ll work out the mental side of things and why that is happening, but the ability to kick seven goals (in a quarter) when the game is on the line is also a strength as well.”