AFL 2025: Collingwood coach Craig McRae on Nick Daicos tag, Tasmanian link

The Australian

8 hours ago

Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos is fighting back against taggers armed with tactics from one of the game's greatest midfielders.
Daicos has been on the radar of opposition coaches for nearly each of his 84 games – but none more focused than the past two weeks.
The star Magpie didn't have his normal impact against Melbourne's Ed Langdon but had 30 disposals and a goal against St Kilda stopper Marcus Windhager last Saturday.
Collingwood coach Craig McRae played alongside regular tag breakers in his time at Brisbane, including Brownlow medallist Simon Black, and has leaned on their tricks to help his young star.
'I think Simon Black was the best I'd seen in my time … but I sort of gave some things Blacky used to do to Nick,' he said.
Craig McRae (left) dusted off some tag-breaking tricks from AFL great Simon Black (right).
'Everyone is trying to support him and he's a high-end talent, Nick, and this is progression.
'Chatting to Pendles (Scott Pendlebury), Pendles went through this early in his career. You have to go through this, (Marcus) Bontempelli is still doing it a couple of weeks ago.
'The best players have to cope with this and this is a part of Nick's journey now.
'I thought we supported him a bit better; he's a pretty hard player to tag, his running capability is huge.'
McRae welcomed the Saints' tag last week, referencing how little reducing the impact of star Western Bulldog Marcus Bontempelli had on the scoreboard.
He doubled down on Thursday in preparation for West Coast, pondering whether the focus on Daicos makes the Magpies a better side.
'Maybe, arguably at times we are yeah, that's the debate, isn't it?' he said.
Nick Daicos has spoken about joining Tasmania when his Collingwood contract expires. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images
'I said here a couple of weeks ago, it's interesting, maybe if you tag someone what it costs your team and we'll try and manipulate it as much as we can.'
McRae also said he's continually talking to umpires and the AFL about how Daicos is treated by taggers, and the whistleblowers.
'I spoke to the umpires at training (on Thursday), and we don't want to create a story that's not there, just an awareness of how they see things,' he said.
'We're here to protect our talent in the game, and Nick's someone we want to make sure we support.
'In hindsight and review of this performance, we were rapt with how we looked after Nick (against St Kilda).'
Daicos spoke on Wednesday about the possibility of joining Tasmania at the end of his existing contract at Collingwood.
McRae joked there would be a hidden addition to Tasmania's pitch to Daicos as he laughed off a potential move.
'If Nick goes to Tassie, I am going with him,' he laughed.
'It's a double deal … not yet (taking it seriously), I love Nick, please don't leave.'
Tyler Lewis
Sports reporter
Tyler Lewis is a sports reporter based in Melbourne's south east.
@tmlew_
Tyler Lewis