There is very little the Daicos brothers do that surprises Magpies coach Craig McRae any more, as the pair masterminded their side’s 52-point demolition of the reigning premiers and triumphed in the match-up of the game’s most talented sibling partnerships.
As reigning Norm Smith medallist Will Ashcroft experienced one of the quietest games of his fledgling career, Nick Daicos was utterly mesmerising as the Brisbane Lions succumbed to a 16.9 (105) to 7.11 (53) collapse at the Gabba.
Nick Daicos was nothing short of brilliant for the visiting Magpies.Credit: AFL Photos
With serious support from his brother Josh, Daicos was monumental – finishing with 38 disposals, eight clearances, two goals assists and a goal.
The 22-year-old wunderkind orchestrated the build-up of pressure that led to an explosive third term – the Magpies kicking four of five goals in the quarter before consolidating in the final term.
In contrast, Will Ashcroft struggled to assert himself in the midfield clash – his 13 disposals a far cry from the effort that led the way in his side’s grand final win last year.
Younger brother Levi, one of the AFL’s most-talented prospects, showed signs of fight without much to work with, with coach Chris Fagan admitting there was a concern at the lack of contest triggered in the midfield, which would need to be addressed.
“He [Will Ashcroft] did have a quiet game tonight, but he doesn’t have many of those. I don’t think it’s systematic of anything … knowing the player he is, he’ll bounce back,” Fagan said after the clash.
Craig McRae addresses his charges.Credit: AFL Photos
Daicos, who was eventually tagged heavily but kept turning up, had the perfect foil in his brother – with Josh’s 30 disposals next-best on ground.
When the Collingwood midfield won possession at the coalface, they then had the speed to capitalise – 2023 Norm Smith medallist Bobby Hill, in particular, landing himself on the highlight reel with a pair of fourth-quarter goals to complement a series of lightning runs down the boundary.
When it comes to his Daicos duo, Magpies coach Craig McRae admits nothing surprises him.
“You look at over 1000 metres gained from both those players, it’s just [amazing],” McRae said. “I had a chat to Nick a couple of weeks ago when Dan [Houston] was out, and said we wouldn’t mind just playing a bit more back and get those metres going.”
McRae confirmed Houston would be set to return from suspension for next week’s Anzac Day clash with famous rivals Essendon, while he said skipper Darcy Moore, who was subbed off against the Lions, had not suffered a concussion and would be available for the Bombers blockbuster.
No panic button yet on Lions’ slow starts
This year and last, the Lions have been able to win from absolutely anywhere. This time around, however, the Magpies were never going to give them a sniff.
Frustrations appeared to boil over heading into the last quarter, with veteran Dayne Zorko and Fagan pictured in a heated exchange after a term in which they were guilty of overplaying their hand on the few chances they had to strike.
“I just talked about how he was a bit hot under the collar, so I just said, ‘Mate you’d better calm down’. It wasn’t anything more than that,” Fagan said of the former Lions skipper.
Dayne Zorko and Chris Fagan.Credit: Channel Seven
Zorko was pinned for holding the ball coming out of his own end without much urgency, while Charlie Cameron and Zac Bailey had chances to go shorter into the forward 50, only to send it long for no reward.
They looked flustered for options up front, despite heading into the contest with three players already passing the 10-goal mark, and finished with just 37 inside 50s for the night.
Fagan had admitted during the week the Lions’ slow starts would not be forgiven the way they had been across the opening five rounds, but was philosophical that the performance was not the culmination of fatigue nor complacency.
“They scored heavily from clearances out of territory,” Fagan explained. “I just thought they were more on than us – they were more energetic, they attacked the ball with vigour. They [the Lions’ players] have won 19 of their last 21 games – you’re going to have a bad day, and we haven’t had one in a long time.”
Shades of 2023?
Collingwood have been going on a tear, Thursday’s emphatic third-quarter romp, in particular, just the latest chapter in a season in which they now sit atop of the ladder.
However, McRae – a three-time premiership winner at the Lions from 2001 to 2003 – was not buying into thoughts that this team could emulate their premiership-winning feats of 2023.
Both Will and Levi Ashcroft battled for space against a super impressive Collingwood.Credit: Getty Images
The way they clinically moved the ball, put their foot on the throat when they sensed a chance, and even had some swagger in getting in the Lions’ faces, certainly painted a picture that it could be.
But McRae hinted there were key differences.
“This is a different team,” he said.
“At the end Bobby Hill was sitting next to me and said, ‘I think we’ve matured’.
“I do feel like, as a team, we have matured, and we’re just managing moments better than we once did. This version of us is a nice version, and we’ll stay here for now.”
Former Lions big man imposes himself
Early on, while the Magpies looked the stronger side, it seemed as though this contest would become an old-school slog fest.
But former Lion Dan McStay did the damage in getting Collingwood on the front foot – building a lead they never relinquished.
The 29-year-old key forward, who moved to the Pies after 161 games and 138 goals with the Lions, kicked three majors in the opening half – proving an imposing target inside 50 for his side’s midfield to pick out.
McStay was sighted less from that stage on – still providing a goal assist to go with his eight disposals, but that is when his more livewire teammates stood up and took the game away from the hosts in emphatic fashion.
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