AFL Rising Star 2022: Collingwood prodigy Nick Daicos wins prestigious award

Collingwood’s Nick Daicos was honored with the AFL’s Rising Star Award in his freshman year in AFL football after a stellar season.

Nick, the son of Pies legend Peter Daicos, burst onto the scene after being picked by the Black and Whites with pick four in the 2021 National Draft.

Already nominated as a father-son selection, Nick should always follow in the footsteps of his father and older brother Josh.

With 60 votes on Wednesday night, the 19-year-old was named the league’s best young player, ahead of Geelong’s Sam De Koning and Hawthorn’s Jai Newcombe.

Despite the questionable snub of an all-Australian selection, Daicos was one of the best rebound defenders this year, averaging 26 touches, five intercept possessions, five scores, four marks and four rebound 50s.

Providing plenty of run and spark under new coach Craig McRae, Josh’s younger brother, was a diamond in the rough for the rejuvenated Magpies in 2022.

Collingwood’s remarkable 11-game winning streak, which saw them rise to fourth from 17th in 2021, is symbolic of the influx of new players that have come through the club.

Already in his first year in the competition, Daicos made steady progress over half and racked up 30+ disposals six times.

During an amazing string of games won by less than two goals, the young star led the Pies to victory in Scott Pendlebury’s 350th game against Adelaide.

Daicos amassed a game-high 40 possessions and scored three crucial goals, two of them last season.

He only fell below 20 touches twice this year.

Daicos quickly became a threat to opposing sides and had to be considered for a tagging job, which Sydney saw as a necessity.

John Longmire’s decision to put direct pressure on the 19-year-old is a testament to the way he plays, regardless of his age.

Nick, who is also expected to do well in the Copeland Trophy (Collingwood’s best and fairest), has gone down as one of the top freshman players of late and may have Sam Walsh (2019) and Jesse Hogan (2015) obsolete ).

AFL RISING STAR 2022 VOTING AND LEADERBOARD

1. Nick Daicos (Collingwood) – 60 votes

2. Sam De Koning (Geelong Cats) – 48

3. Jai Newcombe (Hawthorn) – 35

4. Jack Ginnivan (Collingwood) – 21

5. Nic Martin (Essendon) – 12

6. Jake Bowey (Melbourne) – 2nd

=7. Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (Western Bulldogs) – 1st place