No Nicking this one: Daicos claims first Brownlow
Anna Harrington |
Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos has finally claimed his first Brownlow Medal with a record-breaking 47 votes sealing a runaway victory, and relief for the brilliant Magpie.
The 23-year-old surged to a perfect nine votes from his first three games, led from round 11, then registered six consecutive best-on-ground performances between rounds 15 and 20 to seal victory by round 21.
Daicos won the AFL’s greatest individual honour from Geelong star Bailey Smith (36) and Western Bulldogs champion Marcus Bontempelli (34).
The Magpie had 13 three-vote performances and beat the previous votes record of 45 set by Carlton champion Patrick Cripps in 2024.
Daicos, the son of Magpies great Peter Daicos, conceded he was relieved, having finally prevailed after runner-up finishes in the past two seasons, a third placing in 2023 and an eighth place in his debut year of 2022.
“I’ve just learned not to trust the the betting markets, to be honest,” Daicos said at Monday night’s vote count.
“But no, there is (relief).
“It’s a massive award, and I’m so privileged to be up here. I can’t believe I’m a Brownlow medallist, to be honest.”
The dynamic midfielder had already snared the AFL Players Association and AFL Coaches Association player-of-the-year awards.
It was the fourth consecutive year that Daicos was favourite, and with the umpires able to consult statistics for the first time, the star Magpie was irresistible.
Daicos averaged 34.9 disposals, 5.7 clearances, 6.7 inside-50s and 1.1 goals.
The brilliant playmaker was edged out by Gold Coast’s Matt Rowell last year and Cripps the year before, when Daicos polled 38 votes.
Daicos, the Collingwood vice-captain widely expected to be named skipper next season, is the club’s 10th Brownlow medallist and first since Dane Swan in 2011.
The 23-year-old, an “absolute nuffy” turned Collingwood prodigy, conceded he had struggled with expectation and scrutiny, as the son of a Collingwood great and younger brother of fellow Magpie Josh.
“Pretty quickly, it did get a little bit overwhelming playing for Collingwood and having Dad play, Josh play, and being in the spotlight all the time,” Daicos said.
“And it’s probably something I feel I’ve pushed away as the years have gone on and shied away from.
“And I wouldn’t say struggled with, but I’ve definitely battled with it at times, and deleted social media, tried to stay off that stuff, and just give myself a little break where I can.
“But at the same time, I’m so bloody privileged to be in the position I’m in.”
Melbourne skipper Max Gawn (28) was fourth with three players tied for fifth: Brisbane star Will Ashcroft (27), Carlton’s two-time winner Patrick Cripps (27) and North Melbourne’s Harry Sheezel (27).
Sheezel wasn’t even in the 40-man All-Australian squad.
Port Adelaide superstar Zak Butters, set to join Bontempelli at the Bulldogs next season, was among the contenders before his late-season ankle injury ended his campaign early. He finished on 26.
Patrick Dangerfield drew level with Gary Ablett Jnr on 262 career votes, the most ever.
Sydney stars Isaac Heeney and Chad Warner weren’t in the room as they polled 26 and 12 votes respectively.
The pair were among five Swans stood down by Sydney for breaching club standards and weren’t invited to the Brownlow function at Crown Palladium, but remained eligible for the award.
Separately, a police investigation into sexual assault allegations related to what allegedly took place in a room at East Melbourne’s Pullman Hotel in August is ongoing.
Brisbane’s Conor McKenna won goal of the year while Hawthorn dynamo Nick Watson was awarded mark of the year.
BROWNLOW MEDAL LEADERBOARD
1. Nick Daicos (Collingwood) – 47 votes
2. Bailey Smith (Geelong) – 36 votes
3. Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs) – 34 votes
4. Max Gawn (Melbourne) – 28 votes
=5. Will Ashcroft (Brisbane), Patrick Cripps (Carlton), Harry Sheezel (North Melbourne) – 27 votes
AAP