Coach Craig McRae Expresses Hope for Nick Daicos’ Recovery
Coach Craig McRae is optimistic that Nick Daicos, despite being “sore,” will be able to return to his usual form in time for the upcoming match against Carlton. Collingwood is currently dealing with some challenges in their attacking play, and Daicos’ performance in the recent game against Fremantle highlighted these issues.
Daicos made a return from a corked calf injury, but it was clear he was still uncomfortable and lacked his usual speed. Nevertheless, he managed to be one of the Magpies’ standout players, collecting 31 disposals in a loss to Fremantle at Adelaide Oval. The final score was 7.3 (45) to 5.9 (39).
McRae acknowledged that Daicos is still experiencing discomfort, noting that his gait isn’t quite the same as usual. He also mentioned how hard Daicos works and the effort he puts in even when sore, often receiving treatment on the fence after matches.
“Nick is super critical to us, that’s stating the obvious. But hopefully he’s got through this game well and we’ve got six days before we play the Blues. He’s a pro, like I keep saying,” McRae said.
The Magpies are also set to miss Jordan De Goey due to a concussion, which adds to their concerns in attack. While McRae praised the team’s effort in the game, especially after a heavy loss to Brisbane, the defeat to Fremantle still felt like a missed opportunity.
The Magpies struggled in the first quarter, managing just 1.2 goals from 18 inside-50s. They also had issues with ball handling both going into attack and around goal, particularly when they had chances to secure the game late.
“We just didn’t connect at times… we’re a bit messy forward of the ball, aren’t we? Like that’s real, we lack a bit of polish at times – I think we can all see that,” McRae said.
He emphasized the need for improvement in connection and highlighted the challenges of playing a lot in their forward half while maintaining strong defensive efforts.
“So when it’s coming back, how do we get it back? Are we just gonna bomb it into undersized keys against (Alex) Pearce, who had five intercept marks and is really hard to play against?” McRae questioned.
McRae believes the team has the potential to win games but needs to capitalize on their opportunities, especially in tough conditions.
Despite the challenges, McRae found positives in the performance. He was pleased with Angus Anderson’s promising debut and Billy Frampton’s effective defense against Dockers spearhead Josh Treacy. These moments offer hope for the team as they prepare for their next challenge against Carlton.
