Collingwood coach Craig McRae has slammed critics of Magpies young gun Nick Daicos, describing the 20-year old as an ‘exceptional talent’.
Despite a phenomenal start to his second season, in which he averages 36 disposals after five matches and has surged to Brownlow Medal favouritism, Daicos has come in for criticism for his contested ball-winning and abundance of kick-ins, with some pundits arguing the stats don’t paint a true picture of his impact.
However, speaking on SEN, McRae couldn’t disagree more.
“He’s an exceptional talent and his decision-making is like no one else in our team. He sees things that others don’t see,” McRae said of Daicos.
“I’m sure if 17 other clubs had Nick Daicos on their list, they’d be looking for ways to get him involved in the game – playing in positions where you want to give him the ball [so he can] make great decisions.
“He’s not going be perfect, we don’t even want him to be that word. What he’s doing right now is fulfilling talent and making us better.
“He’s an incredible player – let’s face it.”
McRae had nothing but praise for the 20-year old’s dedication towards training, urging anyone with AFL ambitions to learn from his preparation.
“The thing that separates Nick from others is the way he prepares – he prepares as good as anyone that you’ve seen,” McRae said.
“If you’re a young lad out there and you want to know how to make it, get to training and watch Nick train. He comes back on day one of pre-season and wins the time trial. It’s not a bad statement to make – that’s work he’s done.
“The way he prepares, the way he’s in there with the coaches yesterday, looking at all the things he can do better and the things he’s done that he wants to acknowledge.”
McRae slammed Daicos’ critics, saying focusing on negatives is a sad indictment on modern society.
“I don’t love it as a society, really,” he said.
“Why would we look for the wrong or the things that he can’t do? I love looking at things he can do and rewarding the behaviour. Not just Nick, but everyone.”
The second-placed Magpies face the third-place Essendon on Tuesday in the annual Anzac Day blockbuster.
Nick Larkey of the Kangaroos is tackled by Nick Daicos of the Magpies. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
King and Cornes go head-to-head in heated JHF debate
After a week of blaming one another for their role in the Jason Horne-Francis booing controversy, Kane Cornes and David King have clashed in a heated radio argument on SEN.
Horne-Francis receiving boos during Port Adelaide’s win over the Western Bulldogs has been the subject of much debate during the week, and escalated when King took Cornes to task on Fox Footy’s First Crack for his role in instigating the treatment of the 19-year old.
Cornes then responded on Nine’s Footy Classified, alleging that Power coach Ken Hinkley’s savage critique at Horne-Francis’ detractors was mainly aimed at King.
On Friday morning, the pair went face to face for the first time since making their claims, with Cornes claiming King ‘threw [him] under the bus’ with his comments.
“This only became an issue when you [Cornes] engaged in trolling the North Melbourne fans [over Horne-Francis’ departure] – who were already hurting – and it spiralled out of control,” King said.
“On Sunday, they’re [Port Adelaide officials] watching the show [First Crack] going ‘we can’t believe how ‘Kingy’ threw you under the bus when he clearly knew we were talking about him and Fox Footy and others,” Cornes responded.
King went on to accuse Cornes of misrepresenting his criticisms of Horne-Francis in the past.
“You can highlight last year’s comments from you, from me, from a whole heap of people – if you don’t think they matter, they can all go in the bin,” King said.
“You made out like it was Port audio… the whole thing’s out of context.”
Cornes claimed his 2022 criticisms of Horne-Francis came ‘prior to me knowing the lack of support that he had [at North Melbourne], the lack of medical treatment that he had on the hamstring issues that were affecting him… there were a whole host of reasons that I had no idea about,” Cornes said.
“I don’t necessarily blame him now that I know what he was going through for his actions at North Melbourne last year.”
“I agree with you on a lot of that stuff… there were shortcomings in the way North Melbourne treated Jason Horne-Francis, and in the end, it cost people their jobs, and in the end, Jason left,” King replied.
“When you’re the number one pick, and you then leave after one year, you take the multi-year, multi-million dollar deal, you become a player of significant profile. Port Adelaide knew that this would bring significant heat. Jason knew leaving North Melbourne for Port Adelaide would bring this sort of heat.
“I can’t believe the whingeing now that it’s all turned.”
Despite criticism from King over his conduct, Cornes reiterated that he wouldn’t be changing his polarising ways – including his controversial use of the #icebath in relation to Horne-Francis’ Kangaroos departure.
“Are you ever going to use #icebath again?” King asked.
“100 per cent – why wouldn’t I?” Cornes responded. “So North Melbourne fans are that weak-minded that I get under their skin that much.”
“That’s disappointing,” King answered. “It’s not going to help Jason… if you use #icebath again, I think that’s the most juvenile thing I’ve ever heard you do.
“It doesn’t help your boy.”
Beveridge urges Lobb to embrace the boos as spiteful return home looms
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge is urging Rory Lobb to embrace the boos when the key forward confronts his former club in Friday night’s AFL clash with Fremantle in Perth.
Lobb’s messy exit from the Dockers at the end of last season means he will be enemy No.1 at Optus Stadium.
The 30-year-old has endured a tough start to his time at the Bulldogs, booting just three goals in four appearances.
Fremantle have also struggled without Lobb, with the Dockers opening the season with a 2-3 record amidst some forward-line struggles.
Freo fans are tipped to give Lobb a frosty reception, but Beveridge doesn’t think the 207cm spearhead will be put off his game.
“Rory’s expecting it, and we’ll help him deal with it and we’ll help him play as well as he can,” Beveridge told reporters on Thursday.
“I don’t think the booing of Rory Lobb tomorrow night is going to be an issue.
“It’s definitely topical when it comes to other players at different times, but we just need to welcome it and (welcome) the hostile environment we’re going to walk into tomorrow night.”
Just last week, Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley took issue at people booing 19-year-old recruit Jason Horne-Francis, saying people should be embarrassed heckling such a young player.
Sydney champion Adam Goodes was driven out of the game by booing that had racist undertones.
Beveridge doesn’t have an issue with booing, as long as it’s done in the right context.
“Booing is ingrained in our game … it’s quite a natural phenomenon as far as I’m concerned,” Beveridge said.
“From when we were all kids, at the footy, spectators have always tried to get the upper hand and help their team by booing opposition players.
“But if there’s something sinister and nasty attached to it, then I don’t think any of us condone it.”
Fremantle made just one change, slotting last week’s sub Will Brodie into the 22 to replace Sam Switkowski (calf).
The Bulldogs welcome back Alex Keath from concussion in place of Josh Bruce, who is set for an extended stint on the sidelines after injuring multiple ribs in last week’s 14-point loss to the Power.
Last week’s sub Toby McLean has replaced Mitch Hannan in the 22.
Two of the Bulldogs’ most traumatic recent big-game losses have come at Optus Stadium.
They lost the 2021 grand final to Melbourne by 74 points and coughed up a 41-point lead in last year’s 13-point elimination-final defeat to Fremantle.
But there have also been happy memories, most notably a 101-point win over West Coast last year.
Beveridge doesn’t think last year’s elimination-final loss to the Dockers will continue to haunt his players.
“It’s not an issue. You’ve got to move on from episodes like that,” he said.
“We’ve had a similarly traumatic ending to a year the year before that, on the same oval.
“But we’ve had some really good wins out here and the boys enjoy playing here.”
(AAP)
Kevo
Roar Rookie
Ha ha more desperate exposed Macca spinning the narrative......"one of the greats"...... You actually brought "your knowledge" of ol Voltaire into the conversation. Can't wait to see his stats (Wikipedia!!)
Kevo
Roar Rookie
Half agreeing with half truths......that's Macca's universe.....with half truths he can keep trying to spin the deluded narrative, pollies do it all the time.
Kevo
Roar Rookie
Not sure what happened to Tassie’s post last night or why they were removed. They exposed those so obvious flaws in the resident gossip columnist. He also quoted Gerrard Healy, article expanded below… “The stats suggest Collingwood’s newest superstar is as tough over the footy as any defender in the game and Healy called out the “brain-dead” critics for the bizarre take. “I’ll give you a low light. They were hard to find on the weekend, but the critics of Nick Daicos are simply showing their total lack of understanding of the game, a brain-dead approach looking for a negative when none exists,” Healy began on SEN’s Sportsday. “This kid is a generational talent who is a joy to watch. If you’re one of his critics, I’d stay in the shadows because I’m told that’s where you live, in the shadows of social media. “And you say he that he doesn’t win contested footy. Well, what a joke that criticism is. Currently, he’s averaging nine contested balls per game. “To put that into context, that’s the highest number of contested ball of any defender in the game, and this kid is in his second year. “Last week against Brisbane, when he pushed into the middle he had 12 ground ball gets, loose ball gets, they’re contested ball and his impact on the scoreboard was superb” Yep, “looking for negatives” and “total lack of understanding of the game”……sums it up to a tee. Those possessed by the demon stats generally have a lack of understanding of the game. If only Gerrard had read Voltaire (or Dr Google)….. he’d understand the complex brilliance in the stats analysis and the narrative ducking and weaving.
Macca
Roar Rookie
Ok Kevo - anything you don’t understand is irrelevant and any opinion that says Daicos isn’t one of the greats is wrong. Instead of worrying so much about my knowledge of Voltaire how about you consider the principle of the quote?
Macca
Roar Rookie
I have repeatedly said he is a very good player, but if he gets 10 possessions and 300m gained from kick ins each week the stats look different. Sheezel is averaging 32 and 580
Luke - Hawk tragic
Roar Rookie
I half agree with you macca, but also cant deny that an average of 36 possies a game and 663 metres gained on average is pretty impressive , especially for such a young player.
Luke - Hawk tragic
Roar Rookie
He's got a point though
Kevo
Roar Rookie
Thanks Tassie. I’ll comment on that one….. “Brain dead”…..well said Gerard. “A total lack of understanding of the game”…..so true!!!! This has also always been my belief when it comes to the stats obsessed. “Looking for a negative when there is none”………… doesn’t that sum it up in a nutshell! If only Gerard had read Voltaire (or Dr Google) he would indeed understand the complex brilliance that no one else can……
Tassie
Roar Rookie
In the words of Gerard Healy “ critics of Nick Daicos have a total lack of understanding of the game. A brain dead approach looking for a negative, when there is none”. Well said.
Tassie
Roar Rookie
You attempted to use it as a slur, otherwise why did you mention it, it was irrelevant. Disproved as in your own comment in which against Brisbane he won 16 contested possessions. Obviously he has more strings than just an outside player, and against good opposition. He can be both, and is, a 20 year old kid and a Brownlow favourite.
Kevo
Roar Rookie
I read it, it's just irrelevant spinning and playing with stats to cover up being exposed as a petty gossiper. Love my free choice, that's why I rarely read or comment on your threads or other posts. Oh, it's still so obvious you wouldn't know Voltaire if he bit you on the.........He played centre half forward right!
Macca
Roar Rookie
Why is it that Daicos is the Brownlow favourite and we are “witnessing greatness” when we see him but as soon as anyone comes close to criticising him he is just a poor 20 year old kid? Disproved – how so, does Daicos not get 75% of his possessions uncontested or has he actually laid more than 6 tackles this year? And is accurately stating his stature an insult? You Collingwood supporters are funny
Macca
Roar Rookie
“ What the he ll does that gobbledygook even mean????” See that is your problem, you don’t understand what is being said, so you lash out. Read what I said at 10.13 and it might become clearer. So because I responded to your post you are somehow compelled to respond, you have no free will, you somehow lose your “right not to read babble”? And you”rarely” respond to my threads? You really do like to mark up your own definitions And agian – How exactly would I google a quote from Voltaire and come up with one that applies so aptly? Oh and the accuracy of your views being opposed to those of Voltaires still applies
Tassie
Roar Rookie
Nah mate you just annoy me with your constant rubbish. What exactly are you arguing about? A 20 year old kid doesn’t win enough contested ball to your liking so you insult his physical stature because a point was made that disproved your theory. You are exactly who this article refers to
Kevo
Roar Rookie
"And an answer out of context is not really an answer. 54th is 3 times closer to 154th than first" What the he ll does that gobbledygook even mean???? Yes I can really see your an avid student of google, oops sorry I meant Voltaire. You are posting on my thread. You may notice I rarely do that on yours because I don't read or try to decipher 90 % of your posts.
Macca
Roar Rookie
Ahh yes the last resort of the Collingwood supporter- can’t argue the point so go for personal abuse
Macca
Roar Rookie
That is possible
Macca
Roar Rookie
If you didn’t read what I said you wouldn’t be unable to stop responding. How exactly would I google a quote from Voltaire and come up with one that applies so aptly? Would I think, “I have a feeling Voltaire would have something to say about this” without having read Voltaire?
Macca
Roar Rookie
Criticise? Is observing someone is an outside player criticising? As for winning the argument, the person resorting to insults and abuse is not the one winning the argument
Tassie
Roar Rookie
I’m tipping Carlton won’t be in the top 8 at years end, but what else is new?