The Curious Case of Nick Daicos: A Bridesmaid in the Spotlight
Collingwood’s electrifying midfielder, Nick Daicos, once again found himself on the cusp of individual glory, only to be edged out for a prestigious award. Despite a stellar performance for Victoria in the E.J. Whitten game, racking up an impressive 38 disposals, it was Lachie Ash who claimed the coveted medal, earning the coaches’ nod for his instrumental role in Victoria’s victory over Western Australia. This latest instance adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting Daicos might be subjected to a more stringent judging process when it comes to individual accolades.
The narrative of Daicos being overlooked for top honours isn’t new. Last season alone, he was the runner-up in both Collingwood’s best and fairest award and the Brownlow Medal, all while securing his third consecutive All-Australian selection. Even within that esteemed team, he was controversially placed on the bench, a decision that baffled many, especially considering the calibre of players like Marcus Bontempelli and Matt Rowell who were also relegated to the sidelines.
Adding to this pattern, Darcy Cameron pipped Daicos for the 2025 Copeland Trophy, Collingwood’s best and fairest. Furthermore, for the second year running, Daicos finished behind Matt Rowell in the Brownlow Medal count, a testament to the Magpies’ star’s consistent brilliance. These near-misses, reminiscent of a Jerry West-esque career, are becoming a recurring theme for the younger Daicos brother.
The sheer magnitude of the reaction to the Copeland Trophy result even prompted Collingwood coach Craig McRae to suggest a potential review of the club’s voting system – a notion that would undoubtedly galvanise the Magpie faithful. Similarly, in the wake of the Brownlow Medal count, AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon mused about the possibility of acknowledging runners-up, perhaps as a way to placate disappointed supporters.
Unpacking the E.J. Whitten Medal Decision
While the idea of recognising multiple players might seem appealing, the reality of awarding individual honours is often more nuanced. Coaching panel votes, in particular, are typically held in high regard. Therefore, the decision by the coaching panel – comprising Chris Scott, Sam Mitchell, and Garry Lyon – to award the E.J. Whitten Medal to Lachie Ash likely stemmed from considerations not immediately apparent to the casual observer.
Ash’s performance for Victoria was undeniably crucial. With the team already down a tall player after Jacob Weitering was unfortunately forced off the ground in the first quarter, Ash stepped up magnificently. Despite the disruption and subsequent reshuffling, he managed nine intercept possessions and delivered a series of game-changing runs late in the contest, effectively shifting momentum back in Victoria’s favour. When the game was at its most intense, Ash, according to coach Scott, “burnt brightest.”
Nick Daicos, at just 23 years old, was a prominent figure in the E.J. Whitten Medal discussion, alongside other stars like Zak Butters and Marcus Bontempelli. His 38 disposals were complemented by seven clearances and 13 score involvements, and he laid a game-high five tackles, showcasing both his commitment and brilliance. However, the decision had to be made swiftly after a tightly contested match, and the coaches made their call.
The Daicos Standard: Higher Expectations?
In the grand scheme of AFL awards, with the exception of the Coleman Medal, most are inherently subjective. Engaging in debates about these decisions can often feel as futile as complaining about a perceived unfair outcome in an international sporting event. Having previously been involved in voting for awards, the author can attest that it’s rarely an enjoyable task.
Nonetheless, the recurring pattern of Daicos falling just short does raise a pertinent question: is he held to a higher standard than his peers due to the extraordinary level of performance he has consistently displayed in his relatively short career of just 95 AFL matches?
The evidence from last season suggests a stark contrast in how Daicos was perceived internally at Collingwood. He garnered 87 coaches’ votes for the Copeland Trophy, significantly more than Cameron’s 42, yet was still beaten to the ultimate prize.
There were moments last season where Daicos seemed to operate on a different wavelength on the field, perhaps at times costing him votes, but his value to the Magpies remains undeniable. His second-place finish in the best and fairest felt akin to a player of Jeremy Howe’s calibre not winning “Mark of the Year” in 2017 – a surprising omission.
While umpires often see the game from a unique perspective, their voting patterns in the Brownlow Medal also lend weight to the argument that Daicos is judged differently. Despite these close calls, his individual efforts have still earned significant recognition, with three top placings in the Brownlow Medal. He polled 32 votes in the 2024 count and 38 in 2025, both impressive hauls that would have won the medal in many previous seasons. However, in 2025, Carlton’s Patrick Cripps managed to poll an astonishing 45 votes.
Dissecting the Brownlow Vote Discrepancies
If one were to rely solely on the raw statistic of disposals as a measure of performance, 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 contrast, Patrick Cripps only had one such instance in 2024. Matt Rowell, in 2025, also had four games with 30+ disposals and no votes, mirroring Daicos’ tally for that season.
It’s difficult to argue that Daicos didn’t utilise his possessions as effectively as Cripps or Rowell in those games. At times, he might feel a kinship with the often-underappreciated Greg Williams.
Consider this: in 2024, Cripps received two Brownlow votes in a game where he collected fewer than 20 disposals. In 2025, Matt Rowell secured two “best on ground” performances and one Brownlow vote for games where he tackled with ferocious intensity but had fewer than 20 touches.
Conversely, Nick Daicos has only managed one vote in the six career games where he has won fewer than 20 disposals. Patrick Cripps, on the other hand, has polled three votes every time he has reached the 40-disposal mark, receiving the maximum votes in six of the nine games where he achieved this milestone in 2024.
While disposals are a broad metric, the quality of Daicos’ play is such that he possesses the rare ability to single-handedly influence the course of a game with his touches – a hallmark of only the very best players in the competition.
Lachie Ash, of course, has rightfully earned his moment in the spotlight. He is an emerging star whose State of Origin performance will undoubtedly elevate his profile even further.
As Daicos approaches his 100th game, with only Marcus Bontempelli seriously contending for the title of the game’s premier player (and Sam Darcy potentially joining that conversation this season), it seems almost unfathomable that he has won 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 that others are consistently finding that extra edge to surpass Daicos. In doing so, they might be overlooking the sheer brilliance that is unfolding right in front of them.
