AFL 2025: Collingwood coach Craig McRae on Nick Daicos tag, Tasmanian link
Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos is fronting 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, and leant 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.
'Everyone is trying to support him and he's a high-end talent, Nick, and this is progression.
'Chatting to Pendles, 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.
'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.'
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.
'Yeah, I heard this … 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.'
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