Daicos Dominates as Pies Tame Tigers in Cold MCG Clash
What a performance at the MCG! In front of nearly 60,000 fans braving the chilly winter conditions, Collingwood returned to winning form in style with a 36-point victory over a determined Richmond side. After two straight losses, the Pies looked refreshed and refocused, and at the heart of it all? Nick Daicos. The young gun was nothing short of sensational.
From the opening bounce, Daicos seemed to be operating on a different level to everyone else. Despite the lingering rugby lines from the Wallabies match the night before, there was no confusion for him—he was right at home in the soggy turf. The 22-year-old racked up a whopping 42 disposals, kicked three goals—one in each of the first three quarters—and had a staggering 910 metres gained. And just to put a cherry on top, his 37.2 AFL Player Ratings points was the highest individual game rating for the season so far. That's dominance.
Collingwood had been under pressure after back-to-back losses, but this win puts them back a game clear on top of the ladder. The game was led at every change by the Magpies, but it was a third-quarter burst that really broke things open. In a ruthless 20-minute stretch, five unanswered goals were piled on, finally breaking the Tigers' resistance.
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To Richmond's credit, they didn’t go down without a fight. Despite losing star midfielder Tim Taranto just before the bounce due to calf tightness, they hung in there admirably. Steely Green lit up the third quarter with a boundary-line stunner, and youngsters like Taj Hotton and Tom Sims kept the contest alive early on. Maurice Rioli Jr. also delivered some electric moments, laying a couple of incredible tackles that reminded everyone of his famous family pedigree.
But this was Nick Daicos’s day. Whether slicing through the midfield, dropping deep to kick goals, or delivering pinpoint passes into forward 50, he was everywhere. It felt like he was setting up a new highlight reel with each possession.
Josh Daicos also chipped in with 30 disposals and nearly 700 metres gained, while Tom Mitchell got busy with 29 touches as he pushes for a permanent role in the finals-bound side.
Coach Craig McRae confirmed that the last few weeks had been used for a heavy training load, with an eye on peaking in September. Judging by Sunday’s showing, that gamble might just be paying off. The Pies now face Brisbane and Hawthorn in a tight turnaround before finals, and the form of players like Daicos could be the edge they need.
If there were any doubts about Collingwood’s premiership credentials, they were answered loud and clear at the ‘G.
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