Collingwood have spoken to the AFL about the controversial tactics used by taggers on Nick Daicos in a bid to protect the superstar midfielder from recent close checking.
Star defender Brayden Maynard will miss the Pies’ clash with West Coast, whose coach Andrew McQualter has flagged deploying a tagger on Daicos.
St Kilda’s Marcus Windhager keeps a close check on Magpies star Nick Daicos.Credit: AFL Photos
Magpies coach Craig McRae used a call from AFL’s coaching engagement manager Dan Richardson to fly the flag for Daicos, who has been subjected to a heavy tag from Melbourne’s Ed Langdon and St Kilda Marcus Windhager in his last two games.
He also addressed the issue with umpires who were training at the Pies’ main session on Thursday. Windhager pushed the boundaries with his tactics on Daicos, pinching, pushing and even kneeing the back of the gun Magpie’s legs.
The Saints tagger had little impact on Daicos, who polled coaches votes from McRae and Ross Lyon for his 30 disposals and a goal while Windhager touched the ball 15 times and copped a $1500 fine for an open hand strike to his opponent.
In Daicos’ previous match, Langdon held him to 19 possessions, but it came at a significant price as he managed only four himself.
“I spoke to Dan Richardson earlier this week and [it was] nothing untowards,” McRae said.
“He rang me about another issue and [I said] ‘I just wonder what your take is on what’s going on?’.
“I spoke to the umpires today at training, and we don’t want to create a story that’s not there.
“It’s just an awareness to how they see things. We’re here to protect our talent in the game and Nick’s someone we want to make sure we support. And I thought in hindsight and review of this performance, we were rapt how we looked after Nick.”
Saints coach Ross Lyon was critical of the umpire for awarding four frees to Daicos but Essendon great James Hird said all should have been paid.
McRae said umpires had told him they were monitoring the attention Daicos receives around the ball.
“Without oversharing, I think there’s a level of eyes on him,” McRae said. “I was pleased to hear that, there’s four umpires that they’re looking they’re looking for things, particularly around stoppage. It’s just nice to hear that.”
The tag was commonly applied until the last 10-15 years as a way of shutting down the opposition’s best midfielder but is not used as often now due to the focus on team defence. McRae often says the tagging of Daicos suits his team.
“Maybe, arguably at times we are [a better team],” McRae said. “And that’s the debate, isn’t it? And I said a couple of weeks ago, it’s interesting if you tagged someone, what it costs your team. We’re trying to manipulate as much as we can.”
McRae joked he would follow Daicos out the door if the star headed to Tasmania. Daicos did not rule out a move if the league’s 19th team was admitted into the competition.
“If Nick goes to Tassie, I’m going with him,” McRae laughed. “It’s a double deal.”
Maynard’s return from a plantar fascia tear has been delayed by at least another week. The Magpies enforcer is battling soreness from an increase in training loads, McRae said.
“We just don’t want to put any stress on his body that potentially create other things,” McRae said. “Again, maybe a bit conservative, he won’t play this week.”
The Pies, who have already announced the debut of forward Charlie West, will recall defender Charlie Dean to replace the injured Billy Frampton.
