Nick Daicosโs final quarter forward foray that turned the game in one of the most devastating solo performances will not be a one off with the artful midfielder forecasting more time as a forward.
Daicos predicted in the preseason he would blend his time as a forward reprising the inventive style of play of his famously dynamic father Peter, but the command performance in the final quarter against Carlton was the first moment this year he has been used to such an effect.
โI think so,โ Daicos said when asked if Thursday nightโs game against the Blues was a window on a trend likely to be seen this year for him to spent more time forward.
โI love playing up forward, and I think it gives us a different look as a team. Also, it allows more players to roll through the midfield for us because we have got so many really strong midfielders.
โI think being a dynamic team having players who can switch positions works in our favour and whatever the coach thinks and my position is I am happy to play.
โI get a lot of forward craft advice from dad and I love it any time I watch his highlights. He was an amazing forward and such good craft and any time I get footy advice in general I love listening. He is one of the smartest football people I have come across.โ
Collingwood booted seven goals in the final quarter to come from behind to win. After kicking 3.9 for the first half they kicked 10.1 in the second half with the accuracy at goal plainly a difference in their game. The method play too though was different with Collingwood looking more like the high-speed ball movement team they had moved away from in the last 12 months.
โAbsolutely something we will work through today is how do you find that balance of trying to attack because we donโt want to be down in last quarter and have that mindset. We want to be proactive and come out in the first quarter and kick seven goals. We will work out the mental side of things and why that is happening but also the ability to kick seven goals when the game is on the line is also a strength,โ he said after a function at the Shrine of Remembrance ahead of the Anzac Day game on Saturday.
Oscar Steeneโs two goals for the match, both from strong marks, and the high leaping young ruckโs tap work in the centre has proved a dangerous combination in rotation with Darcy Cameron.
Daicos forecast Steene to take the first centre bounce in what is annually one of the biggest crowds and events of the season. Steeneโs leap and offer of first use to the Magpies has been one of their discoveries of the season to date.
โBig Oscar Steene might be in the first centre bounce too so it will be awesome for him and they (Steene and fellow debutant this season Angus Anderson) have both earned the opportunity.โ
Daicos believes despite the inconsistent start to the year the club could still consolidate and make a push for the top four.
โI would like to think so (to be a four contender again) I think six rounds through we probably havenโt shown enough consistency to warrant being a top four lock, but I think our best footy can match it with anyone.
โWe have always had that inner belief as a team that no matter what the margin we can always come back and Fly [coach Craig McRae] has always been big on kicking the last goal of the game so it is something we will always cary with us. We know if it gets to that scenario where we need to score and chase a team down we can definitely do that.โ
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Michael Gleeson is an award-winning senior sports writer specialising in AFL and athletics.Connect via X or email.
