On Thursday evening at the MCG against St Kilda, Nick Daicos will play his 50th AFL game for Collingwood, 732 days since he made his debut against the same opponent in Round One of 2022.
The 21-year-old joins over 350 other Collingwood players in reaching the milestone, joining his father Peter and elder brother Josh.
Nick has only missed four games since his debut due to the knee injury he sustained on the eve of last season’s AFL Final’s campaign.
Comparatively, Peter reached the milestone at the back end of his third season in the 1981 semi-final victory versus Geelong. While brother Josh reached the milestone in his fifth season, in Round 16 2021 against St Kilda.
For a 21-year-old, the midfielder has packed a lot into 50 games. Achievements such as the 2022 AFL Rising Star, 2023 AFLCA Best Young Player, 2023 All Australian and AFLPA 22under22 in 2022 and 2023, to name a few.
But one that will become prevalent this Thursday night will be that Nick has amassed more disposals than any other player in the competition inside their first 50 games.
In his 49 games thus far, Daicos has touched the ball 1397 times, which is 49 times more than Melbourne’s Clayton Oliver who sits in second place. Rounding out the top five are prolific ball winners in Toby Greene (12920, Michael Barlow (1257) and Tom Rockliff (1252).
Included in Nick’s 1397 disposals are 387 contested possessions and 870 uncontested – highlighting the ability of Collingwood’s number 35 to win the ball both inside the contest and provide a running option on the outside, complemented by the Magpies’ fast paced game style.
Daicos has had 25 or more disposals, 38 times, including a career best 42 disposals versus St Kilda in Round 5, 2023. His career best tackles also came in 2023, after the then 20-year-old laid ten versus the Gold Coast in Round 10.
11 of his career total 145 clearances came in Round 17, 2023 against the Western Bulldogs.
Of his 28 career goals so far, none are more famous than the set shot to open the 2023 AFL Grand Final, a feat also achieved by father Peter in the 1990 Premiership.
From a results perspective, two years of the Magpies going deep into Finals has seen Daicos enjoy a remarkable 71% win-loss record, with 35 wins and 14 losses. Regardless of tomorrow night’s result Daicos will be in the top 25 of induvial win/loss records after 50 games played.
As Daicos reaches the 50-game milestone, he nears a number of others, that although less significant, could also be reached tomorrow night at the MCG.
He needs six tackles to reach 150 career tackles, three disposals to reach 1400 career disposals, seven bounces to reach 50 career bounces, four goal assists to reach 25 career goal assists and one win for 25 career wins at the MCG.
When taking a deep dive on numbers, it would be amiss not to look at the one on Nick’s back. He becomes just third player to wear the number 35 for 50 or more games for Collingwood joining club legend Simon Prestigiacomo and of course, father Peter.
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