Nick Daicos set for Brownlow push, question American AFL star keeps getting asked

News.com.au

13 hours ago

Collingwood big man Mason Cox says he's unsure if he'll remain in Australia when his AFL career wraps up, while praising Nick Daicos as the consummate professional.
The Magpies are flying high on top of the ladder and will be hoping the Round 18 loss to Gold Coast, where they went goalless in the first half, was just a blip in the road to the premiership.
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Cox's legacy as an AFL success story is secure after he made his debut on Anzac Day in 2016, tore apart the 2018 preliminary final against Richmond and became a premiership player in 2023.
Collingwood face some tough list calls this off-season over their experienced group of 10 veterans aged over 30, most of which are out of contract.
They are Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom, Jeremy Howe, Jack Crisp, Brody Mihocek, Will Hoskin-Elliott, Tim Membrey, Jamie Elliott, Tom Mitchell and Cox.
All of those players have had their moments in the black and white, but there will be an unlucky few who aren't offered new deals at Collingwood.
Speaking to news.com.au in his capacity as a Toyota ambassador, Cox chuckled when asked about his plans for life after football.
'I get a lot of these questions as a recent,' the 34-year-old from Texas said.
'I do I think I'll end up just kind of sussing out, I guess opportunities like I do want to stay here (in Australia) long term, but like with anything once footy finishes up hopefully in a few years time it's not so much transferable job to other industries.
'So we'll kind of see what s pans out what opportunities come up and hopefully there's something I can be extremely passionate about and be able to sink my teeth into it. If that's here in Australia, then so be it.'
Cox has played seven games so far this season but has fallen out of the AFL team with the emergence of ruckman Darcy Cameron's and Dan McStay's return from injury.
'I'll keep doing everything with my power to try to put my hand up,' the 211cm ruck-forward said.
'Hopefully that opportunity comes soon, but it'sa sign that the club's in a good position.
'There's plenty of talent coming through and I guess a healthy list at the same time.'
One young Collingwood star is Nick Daicos, who is the favourite for the Brownlow Medal heading into the home stretch of the season.
The 22-year-old has shortened with the bookies ahead of Adelaide's Jordan Dawson, Geelong recruit Bailey Smith and Gold Coast Suns captain Noah Anderson.
'He's just a constant professional,' Cox said of Daicos.
'He's obviously got a spotlight on him every single week and he's still gathering Brownlow votes even with someone hanging off his shoulder the whole game. So it's a credit to him.
'He is one of those players that comes in super mature, got into the leadership group this year, which is pretty impressive at that age.
'He's really going to be I think the face of this club for a long time. As an older player kind of looking at what he's been able to do in such a short time, it's pretty impressive to be able to stand next to him.
'At one point I'll probably be telling people I played with Nick Daicos and have a bit of a laugh about it.
'It's a credit to him. Having his brother and dad there has helped him kind of feel comfortable and be able to grow and become one of the leaders of the clubs so quickly, which is impressive.'
Collingwood are aiming to win their third premiership this century and create more iconic grand final moments on the way.
Heath Shaw's smother on Nick Riewoldt in the 2010 grand final replay has been recreated by Shaw and comedians Ryan Shelton and Matt Okine as part of Toyota's Legendary Moments, which you can watch in the video above.
'I actually had never heard of AFL when it ever happened. I didn't actually start AFL until 2014. But it's definitely lived on in folklore,' Cox said.
'I's one of those moments where it's not something you really can teach. It's just purely a gutsy move to, to be able to make that effort. It's a credit film. It was kind of what AFL is all about really is just kind of maximum effort, having the maximum impact.'
The return of Toyota's Legendary Moments coincides with Toyota's Good for Footy Program, which supports clubs across the country with initiatives such as the Good for Footy Raffle.
Toyota's Good for Footy Raffle helps local football clubs across Australia raise much-needed funds with all proceeds going directly to community clubs to support junior development, facilities, and the future of the game.
Toyota is also running the Toyota Good For Footy Raffle, which is a fundraiser aimed at helping grassroots footy clubs.
'It's a good way for clubs to essentially raise money. Toyota has put $250,000 for grabs through raffles. You can put through on club and 100 per cent of the profits from the raffle go to the club itself. So it's a great way to of raise money for local football clubs.'
'A lot of American sport is quite professional now to the point where there's not as much accessibility for the fans to be able to talk and interact with the players,' Cox added.
'So it's pretty cool in that sense with AFL.'