In-form Magpie Josh Daicos believes Collingwood’s game style under second-year coach Craig McRae has “levelled up” this season as they surge into premiership favouritism.
Any belief the Pies might crash back to earth in 2023 after their extraordinary run of wins in close matches last year was dispelled with a third straight victory to start the season, against Richmond on Friday night.
Josh Daicos helped Collingwood maintain their unbeaten start with a win over Richmond.Credit:Getty Images
With early flag fancies Geelong, Melbourne and Brisbane Lions all stumbling at least once so far, Collingwood have become the team to beat after their preliminary final appearance last year.
“Obviously, it’s nice [to be rated that highly], and means you’re doing a lot well, but it’s early stages of the season, so we’re not too concerned with it,” Daicos said.
“We know we want to peak at the right time and continue to keep building.
“We’ve had only a year and a bit under ‘Fly’ [McRae], and we’ve already seen the progress we’ve made and the way our game style has levelled up this year. So, we’re looking forward to seeing what we can do in the back half of the year as well.”
The Magpies continue to be a high-octane side in offence. They placed the Tigers under significant pressure for much of Friday night’s game, but their biggest improvement is at contests, where they struggled mightily last season.
The club’s football boss, Graham Wright, has also enjoyed some early success from his off-season recruiting raid, with Tom Mitchell, Dan McStay, Bobby Hill and Billy Frampton all making an impact.
Collingwood brought McStay in to provide greater aerial support to Brody Mihocek, but he might need to transform into a makeshift ruckman after Brodie Grundy’s departure and injuries to Darcy Cameron, Mason Cox, Nathan Kreuger and Aiden Begg.
McStay faces his former Lions teammates on Thursday night.
Collingwood players show their support for new teammate Dan McStay (facing camera) after a goal against Richmond. Credit:Getty Images
“Fly said from the start of pre-season [McStay] was our man, and he said [the same] to Dan; to make sure that he knows he’s our man to control the forward 50 and be a real presence out there,” Daicos said.
“We’ve seen through the early years of his career [him] playing behind [Joe] Daniher and [Eric] Hipwood, so it’s awesome to see him take the main role. He brings amazing fight and pressure, and, obviously, he’s a great finisher.
Collingwood brothers Nick and Josh Daicos are both in excellent form.Credit:Getty Images
“We look after our teammates, so if there’s one of them [Lions players on Friday night], there’s two of us; two of them, three of us. We’ll support him in any way. I’m sure that we’ll try and feed him the ball a little bit to get him going.”
Frampton, who Pies players have nicknamed “The Framp-chise”, kept Richmond star Tom Lynch to one goal in a key match-up on Friday night, while Mitchell is a primary reason for their contested ball improvement.
Daicos is convinced Collingwood progressed as a team over summer, and the Brownlow Medal buzz surrounding his 20-year-old brother Nick has come as little surprise to him.
“He’s really level-headed, so I don’t need to have too much input. He’s really humble, and he just loves playing football and loves playing with all of us boys,” he said of his sibling.
“He puts in a lot of work and a lot of time into his game, so it’s great to see the fun he’s having out on the field. I think from a young age, he surprised me a few times. But I’ve learned to expect almost anything with him.
“It’s like it’s his fifth or sixth year sometimes; the way he’s composed and [with] his confidence.
“It’s awesome to see him, [in the] early stage of his career, playing with a lot of confidence and having a lot of fun.”
Meanwhile, Jack Ginnivan took his first major step towards an AFL recall after his pre-season illicit drugs ban, amassing 10 disposals, four tackles, six score involvements and a goal in his VFL return on Saturday night.
McRae said after Friday night’s AFL win that he was “potentially” open to playing Ginnivan alongside the trio of fellow small forwards Jamie Elliott, Beau McCreery and Hill.
“He’s worked hard and the kid’s looking for his next step,” McRae said. “You’ve got to warrant the opportunity.”
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.
