Player Watch Nick Daicos - Can he be the GOAT?

[sr36]

No idea, but King reacting with "It is Daicos, how dare you question his training efforts" felt like something no other player would get the benefit of the doubt with.

Yes and no. Kaneo would blow up about it, but more realistic pundits like King wouldn't jump to a conclusion about the fitness of someone who has been an excellent runner, due to cramping up in the first game of the year.

 

[greatwhiteshark]

This isn't Daicos's fault but the fawning over him by the media is so annoying. Just on SEN today Cornes was saying that Daicos cramping halfway through the 3rd quarter shows he is not fit enough and King was saying "he is the hardest trainer in the AFL, what do you mean he isn't fit enough"

It was like King was desperate to find an excuse for him, but any other player he would have roasted. It just doesn't make sense to me.

I was embraressed for the TV coverage, the guy had cramp and the cameras stayed on him for the entire game. Just ask the ground level commentator how he is going and move on. Missed half the match showing how he is sitting on the bench.

Ridiculous saturation of a guy with cramp.

 

[Corn Cobbers]

The problem is King stated "he is the hardest trainer in the AFL" like it was simply a fact. I don't know who is the hardest trainer in the AFL and I bet you King does not know either, so stating it is Daicos is just annoying.

He trains a lot harder than his dad did, that's for sure

King talks in superlatives, lazy

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[T2B_]

This isn't Daicos's fault but the fawning over him by the media is so annoying. Just on SEN today Cornes was saying that Daicos cramping halfway through the 3rd quarter shows he is not fit enough and King was saying "he is the hardest trainer in the AFL, what do you mean he isn't fit enough"

It was like King was desperate to find an excuse for him, but any other player he would have roasted. It just doesn't make sense to me.

It is annoying, seems to happen with some players. I liked Chris Judd as a player as much as anyone, but some of the fawning made it sound like he was a god. Cyril Rioli another example.

 

[sr36]

I was embraressed for the TV coverage, the guy had cramp and the cameras stayed on him for the entire game. Just ask the ground level commentator how he is going and move on. Missed half the match showing how he is sitting on the bench.

Ridiculous saturation of a guy with cramp.

Yep - it's ridiculous. It's copying the NBA by marketing the game enormously around the stars. Makes more sense in a 5 man team sport than an 18 man one, but unfortunately it seems to be working - with massive increase in aFL interest since they really went hard on that as their marketing philosophy.

 

[bungalow_bill]

It is annoying, seems to happen with some players. I liked Chris Judd as a player as much as anyone, but some of the fawning made it sound like he was a god. Cyril Rioli another example.

Wondering if this fawning ramped up when he moved to Vic or if it was the same when he was an Eagle.

 

[Corn Cobbers]

Wondering if this fawning ramped up when he moved to Vic or if it was the same when he was an Eagle.

He couldn't even go for a coffee in Perth without being swamped [emoji38]

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[RUNVS]

He couldn't even go for a coffee in Perth without being swamped [emoji38]

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True, but the fawning by the Victorian media increased considerably when he moved to Carlton.

If Daicos was playing for Fremantle right now I doubt David King would be talking about him in the same way.

 

[schmuttt]

Won't lie I think he is a bit soft but he is the last person at Collingwood I'd criticize for not preparing properly.

Blame probably falls more on the Pies selection committee and conditioning department for clearing him to play because he was nowhere near ready.

 

[Port 2004]

It is annoying, seems to happen with some players. I liked Chris Judd as a player as much as anyone, but some of the fawning made it sound like he was a god. Cyril Rioli another example.

King is a prize w***er. Thinks he knows everything. I take no notice of what he says.

 

[jimjonesy1985]

Agreed - it’s coming for Whispers & he’ll struggle under that physical duress - the whole comp will be targeting him physically.

Surely the greatest can handle that pressure?

On yesterday’s evidence - Whispers isn’t at that level - sadly.

Unfortunately I have to agree. Only player I saw who could handle that sort of pressure week in week out was Ablett Jnr in his years at the Gold Coast

 

[carlton_99]

King is a prize w***er. Thinks he knows everything. I take no notice of what he says.

One of the more overrated analysts in the game. Just pumps out Champion Data stats with his best mate Hoyney and thinks that's good analysis.

 

[Mr Meow]

If the Pies ancient list is truly falling off the cliff in 2025 he'll very quickly find himself in early career Patrick Cripps areas. A one man band that if successfully tagged essentially guaranteed an opposition win week in week out.

I'm not sure Nicky would cope with that sort of weekly bashing and scragging as well as Cripps did for all those years. Cripps always had the fall back of being double the size of most mids and tough as nails so he was able to endure it for the most part.

Someone like Marc Murphy on the other hand who had a similar build and game style to Nicky had his body completely destroyed when that type of treatment came for him.

That's why for their midfield to be successful and Daicos PODs to be exploited to best ability (as opposed to nice stat sheets but little else) they need a bulldozer or at least a couple of capable big bodies in there with him.

As of now (it could change given how early into his career it is), I don't see that perfect inside/outside balance that can carry a midfield. His best role may still end up being a hybrid midfield/wing/half back utility, a bit of a reverse GAJ/Martin (mid/forward). But that requires the Pies to sort their team balance out, which is looking a little problematic right now.

 

[bungalow_bill]

King is a prize w***er. Thinks he knows everything. I take no notice of what he says.

Hates the Lions with a passion. Would love to have seen his face when it was obvious they were going to win the flag.

 

[bungalow_bill]

That's why for their midfield to be successful and Daicos PODs to be exploited to best ability (as opposed to nice stat sheets but little else) they need a bulldozer or at least a couple of capable big bodies in there with him.

As of now (it could change given how early into his career it is), I don't see that perfect inside/outside balance that can carry a midfield. His best role may still end up being a hybrid midfield/wing/half back utility, a bit of a reverse GAJ/Martin (mid/forward). But that requires the Pies to sort their team balance out, which is looking a little problematic right now.

Same thing was happening with Neale which is one of the reasons we recruited Dunks. A couple of big units in the middle would make a world of difference.

 

[Corn Cobbers]

Same thing was happening with Neale which is one of the reasons we recruited Dunks. A couple of big units in the middle would make a world of difference.

That's where de Goey is seriously important, not sure if he's in great condition though

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[sr36]

Same thing was happening with Neale which is one of the reasons we recruited Dunks. A couple of big units in the middle would make a world of difference.

We need JDG back. Not so much for size, but our Nick hard tag plan is to manipulate positioning, but without JDG we haven't got the players to take advantage of it.

 

[greatwhiteshark]

Yep - it's ridiculous. It's copying the NBA by marketing the game enormously around the stars. Makes more sense in a 5 man team sport than an 18 man one, but unfortunately it seems to be working - with massive increase in aFL interest since they really went hard on that as their marketing philosophy.

Mate he is a gun player and I love watching him play, don't love watching him on the bench or sitting on the ground, or laying on the ground etc etc.
Like you said though it's how they do it, just shows how void of interest the game has become if they feel that watching good players with cramp is important.

 

[GC2015]

Every coach in the AFL now knows if they put their best runner on Nick Daicos, then there's a fairly good chance that his body is going to give in at some point in the second half. If it keeps happening then the Pies might even have to rest him for a month or so during the season just to build his fitness back up.

 

[CCurnow3picks]

Unfortunately I have to agree. Only player I saw who could handle that sort of pressure week in week out was Ablett Jnr in his years at the Gold Coast

Players who have strength over the ball, high endurance & breakaway speed are hard to come by.

Daicos is a very good player of course, interesting to see how he handles what’s coming.

 

[sr36]

Mate he is a gun player and I love watching him play, don't love watching him on the bench or sitting on the ground, or laying on the ground etc etc.
Like you said though it's how they do it, just shows how void of interest the game has become if they feel that watching good players with cramp is important.

It's not a reflection of the game. It's marketing. Nick is a gun footballer who they use as a soap opera star to get more viewers. They use him as a story within to the game. If he's playing well he's the story within the game that then gets analysed for the week. If he's battling he's the story within the game that gets analysed for the week.

The real stories of that game were Sam Taylor, Finn Callaghan (**** they were good) and GWS being much fitter than the Pies.

 

[Corn Cobbers]

The real stories of that game were Sam Taylor, Finn Callaghan (**** they were good) and GWS being much fitter than the Pies.

Darcy Jones [emoji106] how good

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[sr36]

Every coach in the AFL now knows if they put their best runner on Nick Daicos, then there's a fairly good chance that his body is going to give in at some point in the second half. If it keeps happening then the Pies might even have to rest him for a month or so during the season just to build his fitness back up.

I assume you are aware that Nick had a hard tag in most of the games in the second half of last year.

 

[sr36]

Players who have strength over the ball, high endurance & breakaway speed are hard to come by.

Daicos is a very good player of course, interesting to see how he handles what’s coming.

Bedford was a really good match up. I'm far less worried about what he'll cop physically than most are, as the reality is you can't play a big brute on him to exploit his size as they can't track him through traffic - he cuts them to ribbons - a bloke with the agility of a small forward is the ideal match up for Nick and in a couple of years there won't be many who can run with him and are also strong enough to pin him in tackles - there are already very few who can run with him when he is fully fit.

 

[GC2015]

I assume you are aware that Nick had a hard tag in most of the games in the second half of last year.

Yes, but he didn't have an injury interrupted preseason like he did this year with the plantar fasciitis (as far as I'm aware). I just don't think you can get away with that when you play the way he plays + the position he plays at the highest level. I guess there's always the option to throw him forward or back, but that will hurt Collingwood a fair bit to not have him playing in the midfield.

Let's see how he goes against Port this week.