Nick Daicos firms as Brownlow fancy after insane masterclass against Richmond

7NEWS

27-07-2025

Brownlow Medal favourite Nick Daicos put on a clinic as AFL ladder leaders Collingwood ended a two-match losing skid with a hard-fought 36-point win over Richmond.
Daicos shone in the wet conditions and was clearly the best player on the ground in the Magpies' 13.15 (93) to 8.9 (57) victory at the MCG on Sunday.
It ensured Collingwood (15-4) finished an 11th consecutive week on top of the ladder, ahead of a huge clash with third-placed Brisbane next round.
Daicos almost certainly claimed another three Brownlow votes against the Tigers as he tallied 42 disposals — one short of the personal best he set a week earlier — to go with three goals, 14 score involvements and 884 metres gained.
Daicos switched with brother Josh (30 disposals) between midfield and half-back, and also pushed forward with great effect, in the highest-rated performance of any player this season.
'Whatever the measure is, to be the most of anyone in the competition this year says a lot about his game,' Pies coach Craig McRae said.
'That's two weeks in a row he's been able to create off half-back in moments and then still not lose that dynamic stuff around the ball, and even moving deep forward.
'That's a year full of planning somewhat, and then finding out what the game needs and what we need.'
Tom Mitchell (29 disposals) and Ned Long (23, six clearances) were also busy for Collingwood, and Tim Membrey (two) was one of four multiple goal-kickers on return after a week off.
Richmond slumped to a 5-14 record, but the rebuilding Tigers were far from disgraced, taking the fight to their opponents despite a gulf in class.
Tim Taranto (calf) was a late withdrawal, leaving Jacob Hopper (33 disposals) and Tyler Sonsie (28) to win the bulk of the Tigers' ball in the middle.
Steely Green kicked two goals on his return, including an audacious effort from the boundary line, and Taj Hotton also kicked two in his third senior game.
Richmond showed plenty of pluck and were within two points midway through the second term when Green converted a free kick.
But the Pies kicked the next three goals without reply before halftime, opening up a 7.6 to 4.4 lead by the main break.
Daicos was a class above every other player in wet conditions, tallying 22 touches, two goals and seven score involvements to that point.
Green and Noah Balta kicked the opening two goals of the second half for Richmond, while Collingwood lost Lachie Sullivan to a suspected season-ending posterior cruciate ligament injury.
But the Pies again accelerated, with Daicos's brilliant left-foot goal one of five in a row that pushed the margin out to a game-high 41 points before three-quarter time.
They were never challenged from there, winning as expected after successive defeats by single-figure margins against Gold Coast and Fremantle.
Richmond coach Adem Yze said he decided against tagging Daicos, opting to keep the plan simple for his young players.
'You've got a responsibility as a midfielder when you're leaning on someone, but he's just such a talented kid,' Yze said.
'The three goals probably did hurt us in the end, but the last few weeks he's had 40 (touches) and it hasn't guaranteed wins for them.
'My eye was more to what we were doing, and in the last quarter I didn't think he had a huge influence, and we kept playing our way.'