Remember, this guy is still only 21 years old.
Yet the Nick Daicos legend soared to new levels on Friday night with a match-winner for the ages.
A spectacular Daicos goal with 63 seconds remaining delivered Collingwood an epic six-point victory over arch-rivals Carlton at the MCG on Friday night.
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After falling back behind at three-quarter time of the seesawing contest – which featured eight lead changes – the Magpies ramped up their pressure again at the start of the final term as they shot back out to a nine-point advantage before the Blues hit back to level the scores.
But just as it looked like Collingwood was headed for a second consecutive draw, Daicos emerged as the match-winner in front of 88,362 fans which is a record crowd for a home-and-away match between these two famous old clubs.
The premiership star burst clear from a forward 50 stoppage in the pocket and snapped an absolute ripper from 40m out on an acute angle to put the Magpies back up by six points – a lead they held onto until the final siren,
“It was a good feeling,” Daicos said post-match.
“We missed a couple before it and you start to get a little bit nervous.
“Just lucky it went through.”
Daicos’ goal sparked wild scenes both on the field and in the stands, with his father Peter celebrating passionately in a corporate box.
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“The legend is growing right before our eyes – and the legend is Nick Daicos,” Melbourne champion Garry Lyon told Fox Footy.
“We’re just seeing some feats in this game here … the story is just starting, but the game is in the balance, he’s got Sam Walsh – who’s been outstanding – on his tail and he slots that from the boundary to win the match!
“The legend is growing every single time we watch him.”
Triple premiership Lion Jonathan Brown declared “there’s not many capable of kicking that”, while seven-time All-Australian Nathan Buckley pointed out how difficult the goal was.
“When he saw that loose ball, he was on it like a seagull on a hot chip. He was all over it and was then skilful enough to finish,” Buckley told Fox Footy.
“At a stoppage when you get time to set up, you very rarely get one step, let alone finding the four or five metres he was able to find, at that pace across his boot – and the goal umpire didn’t move.”
Four-time premiership Hawk Jordan Lewis added: “To do that and kick that goal on that angle at such an important time, the legend just grows at such a young age for this man.”
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Buckley pointed out Daicos was cramping at the start of the fourth term and even went off for treatment briefly. But for the second straight week, Daicos helped swing a game back in Collingwood’s favour with 10 disposals and five contested possessions for the fourth term alone.
“When he plays like that, he’s one of the best players in the competition – everyone can see that,” Collingwood coach Craig McRae told reporters post-match.
“He was hard to stop tonight.
“I was really happy with the defensive side of his game. His pressure was as good as I’ve seen (from) him since he’s been playing with us – and funny enough other parts of his game really express themselves on the back of good defence.”
Daicos finished the game with 32 disposals, 15 contested possessions, seven clearances, seven tackles and two goals.
“In traffic, he’s always been good ever since he entered the league, but he did a couple of really good things in that third quarter that amounted to goals and kept them in the hunt,” Lewis said.
“You could just see the confusion in terms of who was matching up on him, who would go to him when the stoppage went to the next contest. He just involves himself in the game. It was huge.”
— with NCA NewsWire
Source Agencies
