Nick Daicos: The Unsung Hero of the Big V and the Perpetual Bridesmaid?
Collingwood’s electrifying talent, Nick Daicos, once again found himself in the familiar spotlight of individual accolades, this time as a key performer for Victoria in their State of Origin clash. However, despite a dominant display of 38 disposals, the coveted E.J. Whitten Medal slipped through his grasp, awarded instead to Lachie Ash of the Giants for his pivotal contribution to Victoria’s victory over Western Australia. This latest near-miss has only amplified the growing sentiment that Daicos might be subjected to a more stringent judging standard when it comes to individual awards.
This isn’t the first time Daicos has been on the cusp of individual glory, only to be pipped at the post. Last season, he was the runner-up in Collingwood’s prestigious Copeland Trophy count and, remarkably, also finished second in the Brownlow Medal. This, despite earning his third consecutive All-Australian selection – a team in which he was controversially named on the bench, even alongside esteemed talents like Marcus Bontempelli and Matt Rowell. The debate around his individual accolades continued with Darcy Cameron claiming the 2025 Copeland Trophy ahead of him, and Rowell securing the Brownlow by a seven-vote margin, marking the second consecutive year Daicos had to settle for second place in the league’s highest individual honour. These near-perfect finishes are becoming a recurring theme for the younger Daicos brother.
The reaction to the Copeland Trophy result was so significant that Collingwood coach Craig McRae even suggested the club’s internal voting system might require a review – a prospect that would undoubtedly ignite passionate support from Magpie fans eager to see their star recognised appropriately.
Following the Brownlow Medal count, AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon even mused about the possibility of recognising runners-up to appease disgruntled fans, particularly those of Collingwood. However, the reality of such a proposal is complex. Coaching panel votes, often considered highly influential, carry a weight that may not always be apparent to the broader football public. The decision by the coaching panel – comprising Chris Scott, Sam Mitchell, and Garry Lyon – to award Ash the E.J. Whitten Medal likely stemmed from nuances specific to the game’s flow and critical moments.
Ash’s performance for Victoria was indeed crucial. He stepped up when the team faced adversity, particularly after Jacob Weitering was forced off the ground in the first quarter. Despite the team’s subsequent reshuffle, Ash’s nine intercept possessions and his crucial late-game surges of momentum were instrumental in securing Victoria’s win. As coach Scott aptly put it, Ash shone brightest when the pressure was at its peak.
While Daicos was a prominent figure in the E.J. Whitten Medal discussion, alongside Zak Butters and Marcus Bontempelli, his 38 disposals, seven clearances, and 13 score involvements, coupled with a game-high five tackles, showcased his all-around brilliance and commitment. The decision, made in the immediate aftermath of a tense contest, highlights the subjective nature of such awards.
The Daicos Standard: A Higher Bar for Excellence?
It’s often said that discussing individual AFL awards, barring the Coleman Medal, is akin to debating subjective matters – ultimately a futile exercise. However, the recurring pattern of Daicos being narrowly defeated in significant individual honours inevitably raises the question: is he being held to a higher standard due to the extraordinary level of performance he has consistently displayed in just 95 AFL matches?
Collingwood’s internal voting system last season clearly illustrated this point. Daicos polled a remarkable 87 coaches’ votes, significantly more than Cameron’s 42, yet still finished behind him in the best and fairest count. While there were moments where Daicos seemed to operate on a different wavelength, perhaps influencing his vote count, his overall impact on the Magpies remains unparalleled. His second-place finish in the Copeland Trophy drew comparisons to Jeremy Howe’s omission from Mark of the Year contention in 2017 – a decision that baffled many.
The umpires’ perception of the game often differs from that of the general fanbase, and their voting patterns in the Brownlow Medal lend credence to the argument that Daicos is judged differently. Despite this, his individual efforts have not gone unrecognised, with three Brownlow Medal placings to his name. He polled 32 votes last season and 38 in 2024, but each time, an opponent managed to outscore him. Notably, his 38 votes in 2024 would have been sufficient to win the medal in many previous seasons, yet Patrick Cripps amassed an impressive 45 votes.
When the raw statistic of disposals is used as a yardstick, Daicos appears to face greater difficulty in polling votes compared to recent Brownlow winners. In the 2024 and 2025 seasons, Daicos failed to poll a single vote in 11 matches where he recorded 30 or more disposals. In stark contrast, Cripps only had one instance of 30+ disposals without polling votes in 2024, while Rowell experienced this on four occasions in 2025, mirroring Daicos’s tally for that season.
It’s a challenging assertion to argue that Daicos’s disposals were less impactful than those of Cripps or Rowell, given his ability to influence games. At times, one can only sympathise with his predicament, perhaps evoking the feeling of legendary midfielder Greg Williams.
The Nuances of Umpire Voting
Further examination of Brownlow voting patterns reveals intriguing disparities. In 2024, Cripps received two Brownlow votes despite collecting fewer than 20 disposals on one occasion. In 2025, Matt Rowell secured two best-on-ground acknowledgements and one Brownlow vote for games where his tackle count was prodigious, yet his disposals remained below 20. Daicos, on the other hand, has only managed one vote in the six career matches where he’s had fewer than 20 disposals.
The contrast is stark when considering high-possession games. Cripps has consistently polled three votes every time he has reached 40 or more disposals, receiving the maximum three votes in six of his nine 40+ disposal games in 2024. While disposals are a broad measure, the sheer quality of Daicos’s play suggests he can alter the course of a match with his possessions in a manner reserved for the game’s elite.
Lachie Ash has undoubtedly earned his moment in the spotlight. He is an emerging star whose State of Origin performance will undoubtedly elevate his profile. As Nick Daicos approaches his 100th game, with only Marcus Bontempelli consistently in contention for the title of the game’s premier player (and potentially Sam Darcy joining that conversation this season), it seems almost unfathomable that he has claimed only one best and fairest award in his four seasons, alongside a coaches’ award, a Players’ Association MVP, and a Rising Star award. Lately, it appears others are consistently finding that one extra vote, perhaps overlooking the consistent brilliance unfolding before them.
