Nick Daicos' historic AFL season and Collingwood's finals struggles
Consensus Summary
The articles analyze Nick Daicos' historic AFL season, where the 23-year-old four-time All Australian is dominating as Collingwood’s star player and a frontrunner for the Brownlow Medal in three weeks. Daicos, widely regarded as the best player in the league, has carried Collingwood to finals contention despite their midfield and defensive weaknesses. The Age details Collingwood’s wildcard final loss to Brisbane, where Daicos was their best player but the team’s dysfunctional ball movement and lack of midfield support led to a comprehensive defeat. Key absences like Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom (who played his 375th and final game) further exposed the team’s vulnerabilities. Meanwhile, ABC breaks down Daicos’ playing style, noting his adaptability—dialling down risk mid-season before increasing it again—and how opponents like the Bulldogs exploit Collingwood’s defensive gaps. Both sources agree Daicos is the league’s most exciting player, but differ on Collingwood’s season trajectory, with The Age emphasizing their ninth-place finish and ABC their post-bye improvement.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Nick Daicos is a 23-year-old four-time All Australian player
- Daicos is widely regarded as the best player in the AFL this season
- Collingwood has won 15 of their past 33 games
- Daicos is a heavy favorite for the Brownlow Medal, with the award potentially decided in three weeks
- Collingwood finished ninth in the league this season
- The Bulldogs have won eight of nine matches decided by a single-digit margin this season
- Daicos is involved in nearly two-fifths of Collingwood’s scores this season
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Collingwood lost a wildcard final to Brisbane Lions, with Tim Membrey’s missed kick after the siren sealing the defeat
- Collingwood conceded five goals from the centre, including Aaron Naughton’s clutch mark and goal after Jack Crisp’s first-term lead
- Collingwood’s midfielders Ed Allan and Ned Long had 16 and 15 centre bounce attendances respectively for one clearance, with possession tallies of 13 and 16
- Arty Jones kicked four goals with 17 disposals for the Bulldogs, while Sam Swadling and Angus Anderson were Collingwood’s best finals debutants
- Collingwood’s ball movement was electrifying when Daicos was involved but lacked penetration when he wasn’t, described as 'dysfunctional' by Daicos
- The Bulldogs won the clearance battle and inflicted damage via intercept scoring, exploiting Collingwood’s weak transition defence
- Collingwood’s leaders Darcy Moore, Brayden Maynard, Jamie Elliott, Scott Pendlebury, and Harry Perryman were absent in the final
- Steele Sidebottom played his 375th and final AFL game, receiving a guard of honour from both clubs
- Scott Pendlebury appeared to be retiring after the final, hugging well-wishers in the rooms
- The Bulldogs’ midfield depth (Ryley Sanders, Joel Freijah) ensured they still had 'bark in the centre' when A-listers rested
- Collingwood’s final term saw the lead change four times in time-on, with a 19-second sequence leading to Membrey’s missed kick
- Collingwood’s clearance work was described as 'smashed' by Daicos, conceding 10 out of the middle and 19 overall
- Justin Leppitsch (Collingwood list boss) is in talks to trade for Brisbane’s Lachie Neale, who is 33 years old
- Daicos is a heavy favorite for Collingwood’s Copeland Trophy and may break the all-time Brownlow voting record under the current system
- Daicos dialled down risk in ball use for about a month or so in the middle of the season, focusing on percentage kicks instead of high-risk attempts
- In the first half of the year, Daicos’s kicks inside 50 averaged 1.1 points per kick (below league average), but this doubled between rounds 13 and 18
- In the past month, Daicos increased risk again, harming ball retention but improving scoring results
- Collingwood struggles defending the whole field, conceding at high rates from defensive 50 and the defensive half
- Daicos’s defensive side can be exploited, particularly when he overcommits to ball-winning contests without providing protection on lost hit-outs
- The Bulldogs often attack Collingwood’s weak transition defence, as seen in round 12 when Ed Richards and Marcus Bontempelli caused damage
- Daicos’s off-ball positioning often generates stunning highlights but can leave Collingwood exposed when it backfires
- Geelong coach Chris Scott publicly stated Daicos is the best player in the competition
- Daicos’s running ability and speed make traditional tagging tactics ineffective, as he can create separation from trailing opponents
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- The Age states Collingwood finished ninth this season, while ABC does not mention their final position but implies they are still in the finals race
- The Age describes Daicos as 'comfortably the Magpies’ best player' in the final, while ABC focuses on his overall season brilliance without mentioning the specific final performance
- The Age mentions Collingwood’s last game of 2026 could be the final, while ABC states it could be the last game of 2026 unless they demonstrate something special in the upcoming match
- The Age highlights Collingwood’s struggles in finals (losing key players like Pendlebury and Perryman), while ABC emphasizes their improved form post-bye and finals contention
Source Articles
Why the wildcard final was lost for the Pies well before Tim Membrey’s kick after the siren
As brilliant as Nick Daicos has been this season, he could make Collingwood no better than bang average. His heroics have papered over the cracks.
Breaking down the brilliance of Nick Daicos, and how to stop it
Nick Daicos is in the midst of a special season, with many considering him the AFL's best player. But what makes him so special, and how do you possibly stop him?
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