As Josh Daicos prepares to make his senior debut, Collingwood Media presents the stories, stats and quotes behind the 18-year-old’s rise to the big league.

Josh Daicos
Position: Small forward/ wingman
Height: 178cm
Weight: 69kg
Born: 26/11/1998
Recruited from: Oakleigh U18
Drafted: Selection No. 57 in the 2016 National Draft

What were they saying before he was drafted?
The son of Collingwood champion Peter Daicos, Josh’s talent is untapped but he could be one of the best small forwards in the 2016 pool. Daicos didn't take long to show his talents as a smart and crafty small forward, bursting onto the scene in the TAC Cup practice matches early last year. After being held back from elite under 18 programs until 2016, Daicos had relatively little exposure but has come on with every appearance. A broken hand threatened to interrupt his championships, but he returned to play three games for Vic Metro and show his class and creativity around goal.

How has he performed in 2017?
Collingwood fans had an early look at Daicos at senior level when he appeared in the opening rounds of the JLT Community Series. It was against Essendon that he most impressed, with his clean hands and game sense across half forward catching the eye.

In 14 VFL matches, Daicos has averaged 16.2 disposals and kicked eight goals while spending his time as a high half forward with spells on the wing.

He opened the year with 20 disposals, five inside 50s and two goals against Coburg, but has enjoyed a spike in form late in the season, collecting 21 or more disposals in his past four full matches.

A foot injury against Essendon three weeks ago threatened to end his season, but he instead bounced back to win a season-high 26 disposals (including 19 kicks at 84.2 per cent efficiency), three clearances and a goal in the win over Werribee just one week later.

Daicos was flown to Adelaide as the carryover emergency for last week’s loss to the Power, and stands to join Callum Brown as Collingwood’s two debutants for season 2017.

He will become the 1143rd player to represent Collingwood in the VFL/ AFL when he runs out onto the MCG on Saturday. It will be 8,806 days since Josh’s famous father, Peter, made his final bow against Sydney at Victoria Park in round 15, 1993.

2017 VFL Statistics
Games: 14
Goals: 8

Averages
Disposals: 16.2
Marks: 2.9
Inside 50s: 2.6
Clearances: 1.9
Tackles: 3.6

What they’ve said
"Obviously he has had just one year within our program. I reckon he peaked around championships time and we were probably a little disappointed with the end of his season. He has serious skill, a very good footy brain, and we would have liked to have had him in the program a bit longer. He doesn’t look that quick out on the ground but his GPS data stacks up quite well. He lacks a yard of speed but his footy nous alleviates that. The sidestep he has learned from Dad, and there are a lot of similarities with Peter – great goal sense and the footy brain with the way he sees the game" – Craig Notman (Oakleigh Chargers talent manager), Inside Football, November 2016.

"While he has played predominantly as a small forward this season - he bases his game on Port Adelaide livewire forward Chad Wingard - Daicos is determined to improve his fitness base in order to spend more time in the midfield. One of the most unique aspects to Daicos’ game is his goal kicking technique. He barely generates any momentum during his run-up, opting to slowly step towards his target. But then as he kicks the ball on his preferred right boot, his leg swings dramatically across the left side of his body, rather than following the straight trajectory of the footy." – Ben Waterworth, Fox Footy, November 2016.

"Callum and Josh Daicos spent a week with us during the pre-season and it great to have them down. They are fantastic young men. They really thrived in the environment here. Just having them around was first class and both them threw themselves into it flat out. Nothing was too hard. Even when they fell short, they dusted themselves off," – Nathan Buckley, 5 April 2016.

"Josh has got class and a nice lateral first step but the real highlight is his beautiful kicking skills. He entered the TAC Cup this year after playing at Camberwell Grammar and early in the year he showed he had some seriously special qualities" – Anton Grabic (Vic Metro coach), Herald Sun, 15 June 2016.

“He’s a very skilful player, he gets a lot of the ball, he works hard and always makes good decisions,” – Callum Brown (contemporary and son of Gavin Brown), Herald Sun, 7 October 2016.

“I’m starting to get used to being an AFL player. I’m a lot more comfortable now (but) it’s a big jump from the footy I’ve been playing,” – Josh Daicos, collingwoodfc.com.au, 24 January 2017.

“He had a really strong performance on the weekend… if he strings a couple of those games together then he's not far away,” – Nathan Buckley, 16 April 2017.