Daicos’ Demands Under Fire Amid Magpies’ Reliance

Star midfielder’s habits questioned as team’s scoring dependency grows

Collingwood’s rising star Nick Daicos is facing scrutiny for perceived instances of demanding possession in disadvantageous situations. This concern is amplified by a broader worry about the Magpies’ “unhealthy” over-dependence on their Brownlow Medal favourite.

On-Field Frustration Caught on Camera

Vision broadcast last Saturday night showed **Daicos** moving towards the boundary line with a close opponent, signalling for the ball from his brother, **Josh Daicos**. He was later seen expressing clear frustration when the handball wasn’t delivered.

This particular play occurred during Collingwood’s 27-point defeat to Brisbane. Despite the loss, **Daicos** recorded a team-high 29 disposals and a game-high nine score involvements, underscoring his significant impact.

“Unhealthy Habit” Developing

Four-time premiership player **Jordan Lewis** suggested on Monday night that this behaviour might be evolving into a detrimental habit for the young star.

“You’re starting to see this maybe creep into his (Daicos’) game a little bit, where you’re calling for the ball in areas where you might not be as dangerous.”

—Jordan Lewis, Four-time Hawthorn premiership star

Lewis elaborated on the sentiment, noting **Daicos**’ reactions when not receiving the ball.

“I think anyone who realises when Josh Daicos gets the ball, he can be OK, but it’s probably (Nick’s) after attitude — ‘why didn’t you give it to me?’ So, when you see that in a player … I could’ve shown 10 (examples). It’s a habit. (There’s) a balance between wanting the ball and wanting the ball in the wrong spots.”

—Jordan Lewis, Four-time Hawthorn premiership star

The Overreliance Concern

Over the last six rounds, **Daicos** has been instrumental in an impressive 43 per cent of Collingwood’s scores, the highest figure across the league.

However, **Lewis** voiced his primary concern: the team’s significant reliance on the Brownlow Medal candidate.

“There’s got to be a balance in it. So, 43 per cent of (scores), the ball goes through Nick — that’s obviously a big tick. But you can’t be calling for the ball, and you can’t be expected to give the ball to a player, no matter how dangerous they are, when they’re not in a dangerous position.”

—Jordan Lewis, Four-time Hawthorn premiership star

When asked by **Jack Riewoldt** if the habit stemmed from opposition tagging, **Lewis** dismissed the notion.

“No, I don’t think so. I think he’s been really good in terms of mixing up his positions. He’s the Brownlow Medal favourite for a reason … he may need some help in that area. I think, if you look at their list — and we brought up Dan Houston last week to (ask) where is he best suited, and he hasn’t found his absolute niche on the half-backline — is he one of the players, in terms of centre-forward distributors, that you might try and expose to that midfield group?”

—Jordan Lewis, Four-time Hawthorn premiership star

**Dan Houston**, who managed only 11 disposals in the recent match against Brisbane, has faced questions regarding his role within coach **Craig McRae’s** system.

The Magpies’ reliance on **Daicos** is highlighted by statistics showing he is involved in nearly half their scoring chains. In comparison, the average AFL player is involved in approximately 15% of their team’s scores, according to AFL statistics from the 2024 season.