Collingwood faced a major setback when star midfielder Nick Daicos withdrew from the game against the Brisbane Lions just 15 minutes before the match began. The decision to fly Daicos to Brisbane was made in the hope that he would be able to play, but a calf injury forced him out at the last moment.
This incident followed a controversial move by Collingwood last week, where skipper Darcy Moore was left on the ground during a game against GWS despite showing clear signs of a hamstring injury. Moore was later ruled out for three to four weeks, highlighting the challenges the team is facing with key players.
Coach Craig McRae explained that Daicos had intended to play and had even trained on Tuesday, though he was not fully fit. “He had a corkie in his calf,” McRae said. “He wanted to get moving, but he didn’t train and was hobbling around.”
Daicos’ performance during the pre-game warm-up was concerning. His right calf was heavily strapped, and he struggled to run. The coach noted that Daicos failed the warm-up, which raised doubts about his readiness for the game.
“If he was a horse, you wouldn’t back him, would you?” McRae quipped, reflecting the uncertainty surrounding Daicos’ participation. His withdrawal had a significant impact on Collingwood’s performance, as they suffered a 54-point loss to the Lions.
“Honestly, I felt like we got outplayed for most of the night,” McRae admitted. “The stoppages really got away from us. When you lose territory against this team, it makes it really difficult.”
Despite the setback, McRae remained optimistic about Daicos’ recovery. He indicated that the player would likely be available for the next game against Fremantle in the Gather Round. “We are hoping it improves,” McRae said. “We do have three days off. We’re back in [at the club] on Monday.”
McRae also mentioned that club great Scott Pendlebury was making progress in his rehabilitation and could be back for the upcoming match. “He’s there doing rehab, and he said, ‘I feel good,'” McRae added.
Another concern for Collingwood was winger Steele Sidebottom, who sustained a heavy knock to the ribs during a tackle from Brisbane’s Keidan Coleman. Sidebottom left the field just before half-time and received medical attention, but returned in the second half.
“He’s a tough bugger,” McRae said of Sidebottom. “It was a really good hit, and it was sort of symbolic [of] a bit of our night that we didn’t play with good method at times.”
The team’s struggles were evident as they failed to use the ball effectively, leading to increased pressure on their players. “I thought we just didn’t use the ball anywhere near what we’re capable of,” McRae said.
For the Brisbane Lions, the night was a celebration. Will Ashcroft emerged as the standout performer, taking over as the match-winning midfielder in Daicos’ absence. Ashcroft recorded 36 disposals and kicked a remarkable goal from the boundary, which could be a contender for goal of the year.
Ashcroft has now surpassed Lachie Neale as the Lions’ top onballer. The team also showed strength in kicking six goals from centre-square clearances.
Coach Chris Fagan confirmed that the late withdrawal of Daicos did not change their approach. “We made a decision after what happened last week [against St Kilda] just to back our midfield in,” Fagan said. “We were just going to try and quell Daicos’ influence at stoppage.”
The Lions will be further strengthened by the return of premiership skipper Harris Andrews from suspension next week.
Key points:
– Craig McRae admitted Nick Daicos had a ‘corkie’ before the Lions clash.
– Steele Sidebottom copped a crunching hit during the game.
– With Daicos sidelined, Will Ashcroft’s star shone even brighter in prime time.
