Mega Thread Nick Daicos - Can he be the GTWEB? Part 2

[Mynamesinuse]

Heeney rather than Bont is the one you should be talking about, but if they shift ahead of the ball a defender rolls onto them. Who is dumb enough to keep their star attacking 182cm mid one out in the back pocket against Bont Petracca or Heeney? Likewise if Nick went forward with space around him, which he started to do a fair bit this year, as if you'd use Bont, Heeney or Petracca to guard him.

It’s hypothetical obviously but if Daicos was stuck on Bont deep it’s not ideal..

 

[Corn Cobbers]

Say…if it was a Preliminary final and the Bulldogs were down by 2 and a half goals coming into the last quarter for a place in the Grand Final.
What would the odds be of Bont playing the entire quarter and not getting a touch?

Like Daicos

He was gravely injured, still played a mighty game https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/coll...s-through-two-serious-injuries-c-20842672.amp

In any case, Bont's finals record isn't that flash, absolutely disappeared in the 21GF when the heat came on, hasn't won a final since

 

[sr36]

It’s hypothetical obviously but if Daicos was stuck on Bont deep it’s not ideal..

He'd struggle against Gawn in the ruck too. Or defending Thilthorpe in the air.

 

[doppleganger]

Say…if it was a Preliminary final and the Bulldogs were down by 2 and a half goals coming into the last quarter for a place in the Grand Final.
What would the odds be of Bont playing the entire quarter and not getting a touch?

Like Daicos

Daicos (with 3 disposals) actually only had 1 less disposal than W.Ashcroft (4) in Q4 of the 2025 PF.

The Bont has been pretty ordinary in many of his finals. Would get pretty short odds of the Bont not showing up in a final when the Dogs needed him based on the Bont's last 3 finals

The Bonts last final, a 2024 knock out final against Hawthorn, Dogs were winning at Q time. Then the Hawks kicked 9 goals to just 2 for the Dogs in Q2 and Q3 to kill the game and end the Dogs season.

In Q2 Bont had 1 disposal
In Q3 Bont had 3 disposals

Prior to that 2022 EF, Dogs winning a 3/4 time. But Bont only had 6 touches as the Dockers run all over the Dogs to end their season.

2021 GF, Bont made to look silly by Petracca as the Dees kicked what 15 goals in a row (after the Bont and the Dogs stopped to a walk) from midway through Q3.

 

[bzparkes]

unprecedented

 

[Mynamesinuse]

He'd struggle against Gawn in the ruck too. Or defending Thilthorpe in the air.

Yeah and again I ask what matrix people are using to determine the best player in the AFL is.

 

[Chip Scab1]

How many one on one contests you reckon Daicos would win against Bont?

Bont is the best and even Dangers best is still better.

Heeney Rozee Butters NWM Dawson Holmes Smith Ashcroft McCluggage Anderson Rowell Callaghan

Then blokes like Gawn Andrew’s Jeremy Cameron Toby Green Sam Taylor are in the argument

This is absurd.

Nicky has Yitzhak Heeney, Rozee, Butters covered by plenty. Holmes and Smith by so far it isn't funny. McCluggage and Anderson the only ones who are close to Little Nicky, in Ando's case maybe ahead by a Nostril.

 

[sr36]

Yeah and again I ask what matrix people are using to determine the best player in the AFL is.

The bloke who doesn't believe in stats wants a matrix to measure who is the best player in the AFL ...

 

[Corn Cobbers]

Yeah and again I ask what matrix people are using to determine the best player in the AFL is.

The matrix of common-sense

Consistent podium finishes, hard tags and epic highlights reel

Easily the best

 

[Mynamesinuse]

The matrix of common-sense

Consistent podium finishes, hard tags and epic highlights reel

Easily the best

Like Rozee Heeney NAS Gawn etc

 

[Corn Cobbers]

Nah not really.

Err yes really

Keeps you awake at night huh, Collingwood having the best player and contending regularly, those stomach ulcers must be agony

 

[Mynamesinuse]

The bloke who doesn't believe in stats wants a matrix to measure who is the best player in the AFL ...

Well if Heeney plays forward kicks 5 and Daicos plays mid and has 35 who’s had the better game?

 

[Mynamesinuse]

Err yes really

Keeps you awake at night huh, Collingwood having the best player and contending regularly, those stomach ulcers must be agony

Not really no.

 

[Fadge]

Yeah and again I ask what matrix people are using to determine the best player in the AFL is.

Here is some data from the last three years, based on results of the three major individual awards, All-Australian representation and finals performances.

Naturally, if you're in the best performed few in the competition, you'll likely be awarded with an All-Australian guernsey, though there is one exception - Lachie Neale in 2023.

I have limited the dataset below to midfielders, given the nature of the voting - it is difficult to quantify the performances of Rucks, Forwards and Backs using this data. I have listed 23 players, and expect the likes of Greene and Curnow in 2023, Hogan in 2024 and J. Cameron in 2025 would fit in nicely amongst the bottom third of this list. Harris Andrews is probably a defender who wouldn't look out of place in this list as well, in addition to Max Gawn.

Anyways, here is the list:



We can see the clear Number 1 player since 2023 is Nick Daicos, with 3 of the top 8 performances based on season output. I have his 2023 marginally ahead of Heeney's 2024 based on one played in a premiership and the other didn't, but could understand if some had Heeney's 2024 ahead.

It's probably no surprise to see the Bont as the second most consistently elite player in the competition across that time, but Caleb Serong may come as a surprise to some rounding out the podium in third place, as the only other player in this list to have all three of his seasons amongst the very best in the competition.

 

[Fadge]

Well if Heeney plays forward kicks 5 and Daicos plays mid and has 35 who’s had the better game?

What does Daicos do with his 35?

 

[Mr Meow]

Here is some data from the last three years, based on results of the three major individual awards, All-Australian representation and finals performances.

Naturally, if you're in the best performed few in the competition, you'll likely be awarded with an All-Australian guernsey, though there is one exception - Lachie Neale in 2023.

I have limited the dataset below to midfielders, given the nature of the voting - it is difficult to quantify the performances of Rucks, Forwards and Backs using this data. I have listed 23 players, and expect the likes of Greene and Curnow in 2023, Hogan in 2024 and J. Cameron in 2025 would fit in nicely amongst the bottom third of this list. Harris Andrews is probably a defender who wouldn't look out of place in this list as well, in addition to Max Gawn.

Anyways, here is the list:

View attachment 2504011

We can see the clear Number 1 player since 2023 is Nick Daicos, with 3 of the top 8 performances based on season output. I have his 2023 marginally ahead of Heeney's 2024 based on one played in a premiership and the other didn't, but could understand if some had Heeney's 2024 ahead.

It's probably no surprise to see the Bont as the second most consistently elite player in the competition across that time, but Caleb Serong may come as a surprise to some rounding out the podium in third place, as the only other player in this list to have all three of his seasons amongst the very best in the competition.

N.Daicos was Collingwood's best player in the 2025 prelim based on what? Good first half, ineffectual second half. 3 Brisbane midfielders combined for 18 coaches votes, Daicos received none. He lost his position.

 

[Fadge]

N.Daicos was Collingwood's best player in the 2025 prelim based on what? Good first half, ineffectual second half.

Based on the fact he was better than the other 22 players who took the field for Collingwood that night.

As agreed by the journalist/s at AFL.COM.AU:



I know Daicos is good, but I don't think we can expect him to account for 3 Brisbane midfielders all by himself...

 

[Corn Cobbers]

Based on the fact he was better than the other 22 players who took the field for Collingwood that night.

As agreed by the journalist/s at AFL.COM.AU:

View attachment 2504031

Not to mention his epic player rating for the night

 

[Fadge]

Not to mention his epic player rating for the night

Oh yes, great point!

 

[Mr Meow]

Based on the fact he was better than the other 22 players who took the field for Collingwood that night.

As agreed by the journalist/s at AFL.COM.AU:

View attachment 2504031

3 Lions midfielders at the same stoppages were much better. He lost his position.

Elliot, J.Daicos, Maynard, Quaynor and Crisp you can at least argue won their positions. 3 of them didn't even feature there yet somehow Sidey (who was torched all day) and Cox (did nothing besides two basic goals) did.

A sides best midfielder being severely outplayed by the opposition's 3 midfielders is not a meritorious performance. He went missing in the 2nd half.

 

[Mr Meow]

Not to mention his epic player rating for the night

Much like Holmes being rated 2nd BOG in the GF. Which I'm sure you also agree with.

 

[Fadge]

3 Lions midfielders at the same stoppages were much better. He lost his position.

Elliot, J.Daicos, Maynard, Quaynor and Crisp you can at least argue won their positions. 3 of them didn't even feature there yet somehow Sidey (who was torched all day) and Cox (did nothing besides two basic goals) did.

A sides best midfielder being severely outplayed by the opposition's 3 midfielders is not a meritorious performance. He went missing in the 2nd half.

I'm comfortable with the narrative he was overrun by three Lions midfielders in the second half.

Was an extraordinary performance for him to single-handedly keep us in the game for so long.

 

[Corn Cobbers]

Much like Holmes being rated 2nd BOG in the GF. Which I'm sure you also agree with.

"Also"? Just mentioned his player rating, in response to your contention that he wasn't Collingwood's best on the night

 

[Corn Cobbers]

I'm comfortable with the narrative he was overrun by three Lions midfielders in the second half.

Was an extraordinary performance for him to single-handedly keep us in the game for so long.

With a PCL too, extraordinary performance by the game's best player

 

[Mynamesinuse]

With a PCL too, extraordinary performance by the game's best player

Amazing this was mentioned seems to be a common theme.