IT IS DONE: Professional Australian football Young Star Nick Daicos Has Done It Again, Head Coach Craig McRae Reacts Shock with Major Announcement Concerning……

It’s happened again. Once more, Nick Daicos has stamped his mark on the AFL, delivering a breathtaking performance that left fans, commentators, and even his coach, Craig McRae, in awe. But this time, McRae’s post-game declaration wasn’t just praise—it came with a major, unexpected announcement concerning the direction of Daicos’s future and his role within Collingwood Football Club.

In Collingwood’s commanding 34-point victory over St Kilda at Marvel Stadium, Daicos delivered a sensational performance—a vintage display of silk and steel. Despite being under intense tagging pressure from Marcus Windhager, who even earned a \$1,500 fine for striking Daicos early in the game, Nick was undeterred. He racked up 30 disposals, booted a goal, and involved himself in nine inside-50s and score involvementsIn the third quarter, he sparked Collingwood’s decisive burst which ultimately cemented their six-point lead at that stage—proof that he remains completely disarmable under sieg

The attention from opponents has intensified, with tagger strategies backfiring spectacularly. Windhager’s tactics didn’t help his side; St Kilda lost by a massive 34 points despite his close checking. Veteran pundits criticized the rough treatment. Pundit David King described it as “a step too far,” especially citing off-the-ball knees(

McRae used the occasion to reinforce the importance of protecting his young star. “I just said to Nick when he came off for the first break that we don’t want him to fight the battles—**we’ll fight them for him**,” McRae told reportersAnd it wasn’t lip service: Collingwood made sure Nick was supported by team structures, collective pressure, and umpiring awareness.

That awareness, McRae revealed, extended beyond just team talk. He held “ongoing discussions with umpires and the AFL,” including a recent training-ground chat with the umpiring boss, Dan Richardson, so that officials would be extra vigilant with how taggers were treating Daicos

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## **3. Craig McRae on Tag-Coping: Lessons from the Greats**

In a revealing mix of footy lore and tactical foresight, McRae shared that he’d leaned on the experience of AFL luminaries to coach Daicos through this phase. He recalled Simon Black—the Brisbane Lions midfield titan—as one of the best tag-breakers he’s ever seen, and has taught Nick the similar “little things Blacky used to do” to shake off pressure(

McRae also drew parallels with Scott Pendlebury and Marcus Bontempelli—both of whom endured tagging spells early in their careers. His philosophy? “The best players have to cope with this, and this is part of Nick’s journey no

This support paid dividends on Saturday, with Daicos overshadowing his tag, executing clean ball movement and impact generation, and inspiring the team to victory.

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## **4. McRae’s Major Announcement: Tasmania, Contracts & a Humorous Declaration**

The biggest bombshell came after the game, when McRae went off-script. While discussing Nick’s remarks on possibly going to the forthcoming Tasmania expansion side, McRae quipped: **“If Nick goes to Tassie, I’m going with him. It’s a double deal”**. Light-hearted though it was, the comment wasn’t without heft.

Here’s the context:

* Daicos is presently contracted to Collingwood through 2029.

* He stated earlier in the week that he wouldn’t “rule anything out” once the Tasmania Devils join the AFL in 2028

* Tasmania is already part of the Daicos conversation—Derek Hine, ex-Collingwood list boss, has moved there, and reportedly there are links to an emerging interest in lands near Daicos

McRae’s off-hand remark may have been playful, but it’s significant—it signals just how highly the Collingwood coach values Daicos, not just for now, but for the club’s long-term engine room.

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## **5. Why Nick Daicos Matters: The Bigger Picture**

### **A Proven Match-Winner**

Daicos is no one-trick pony. In 2023, he claimed a premiership medal with Collingwood, earned All-Australian honours, and was named AFLCA Champion Player of the Year. His statistical record is staggering: averaging nearly 31 disposals, with consistent goal-scoring and i

This season, too, he is off to a flying start. He’s already hit 30-plus disposals multiple times and has become co-vice-captain That kind of output isn’t just good, it’s generational.

### **Leadership & Legacy**

McRae acknowledges that Daicos is more than just ball magnet—he is a natural leader. In 2025, he was added to the leadership group, and McRae told media that Nick treats “every training session as though it’s the most important he’s ever done”That work ethic has elevated the squad; McRae praised his influence on teammates, mentoring by example, and ability to haul the team forward.

He has already become the finest footballer McRae has coached. When asked if he’s seen someone like him before, McRae replied, **“No I haven’t—and it’s on different levels… His decision-making, his hard work, his running—it’s unbelievable”**([7news.com.au][5]).

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## **6. The Strategic Impact: Collingwood’s System & Next Steps**

### **Turning Tag Pressure into Team Strength**

McRae has been clear that Collingwood’s strength lies not only in Nick’s brilliance, but in the system around him.

> “Maybe, arguably at times we are \[better when he’s tagged], that’s the debate, isn’t it?” McRae observed, pointing out that opponents who zero in on Nick leave space for others, creating unexpected opportunities across the park([news.com.au][2]).

The Magpies aim to exploit that: forcing opponents into tough choices, keeping them off-balance, and using Nick’s presence to orchestrate team-wide movement.

### **A New Chapter for the Club**

McRae is constructing a Collingwood squad that doesn’t just lean on nostalgia. With age-balancing youth and wisdom—ranging from Pendlebury and Moore to Daicos—the aim is to reinvigorate but not erase tradition([news.com.au][8]).

His public walk-through of conversations with umpires, former Lions players’ trickery, and multi-layered tactics shows Collingwood’s future is being carved on every front—mental, physical, systemic, and moral.

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## **7. What’s Ahead? Eyes on Tasmania & September**

### **2025 Season Outlook**

Collingwood leads the ladder ahead of a crucial run, and with Nick in scorching form, expectations have surged. McRae’s strategic tweaks—such as shifting Josh to half-back and bolstering the midfield’s athleticism—are designed to get the ball into Daicos’s hands more often.

### **The Tasmania Talk**

With Tasmania slated to enter the AFL in 2028, Nick’s future contracts will likely become hot property. That McRae joked he’d chase Nick there speaks volumes about the club’s commitment. It’s a symbolic gesture demanding a serious read: Collingwood isn’t just backing Nick today—they’re pledging to make the Collingwood story his destiny beyond 2025.

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## **8. Final Word**

Nick Daicos hasn’t just “done it again”—he’s consistently done it, week after week. But more importantly, he’s expanding the game, and Collingwood’s approach under McRae is evolving in real time around him. And as the laughter over a “double-deal” with Tasmania shows, there’s a deep, emotional, and strategic bond between player and coach—one that promises big things.

As the finals loom, every opponent knows: if you focus on Nick Daicos, Collingwood’s whole machine will crush you. And if Collingwood lose him? Well, McRae says he’s ready to go to Tassie, too.

That’s how it’s done, in the AFL of 2025—Nick Daicos, Craig McRae, and Collingwood chasing greatness, whatever the headlines read next.