A vulnerable Essendon have been fired a warning shot ahead of tomorrow night’s blockbuster clash against Collingwood, as superstar Pie Nick Daicos threatens to explode once again on the big stage.
In a match-up that the Brownlow Medal favourite knows all too well, Bombers fans have been haunted by his output on Anzac Day for two seasons running; especially in 2023 when he amassed 40 disposals, six inside 50’s and two goals.
And should Brad Scott choose to ignore history, the consequences could be dire according to an AFL great modern era great.
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Speaking on Fox Footy’s First Crack Preview, St Kilda great Leigh Montagna highlighted just how much the third-year Magpie has hurt teams when all eyes are watching – especially in the fourth quarter.
“Don’t get ‘Nick’d’ by Nick Daicos, and that is my message to Essendon for tomorrow night, because this guy is on some sort of heater at the moment,” Montagna begun by saying.
“He is playing off the charts, he’s the hottest player in the competition. In the last eight games, he’s been voted the first or second-best player by the coaches in seven of the eight – he’s airborne, and I think this is an opportunity for the Bombers to try and find a way to shut him down.
“Because even if you are leading by 20 points at three-quarter time, what this guy can do in fourth quarters – I’m not sure we’ve even seen from anybody in the history of the game over their careers.”
The 287-game Saint went on to reveal an incredible stat comparing Daicos’ individual last-gasp success against that of Carlton as a whole club over an astonishing time period, before emphasising his output late in games.
“He’s already done it 14 times, where he’s come from behind at three-quarter time – to give you some context, Carlton as a team have only done it 13 times in 10 years, Collingwood have done it 14 times in the 62 games that he’s played in,” continued Montagna.
“These are the numbers in five of their last six come-from-behind (matches) when they trailed at three-quarter time and won.”
Recent examples of his fourth quarter efforts in come-from-behind victories:
Round 6, 2023 (v Essendon): Seven disposals, two goals, one clearance
Round 15, 2023: 10 disposals, one goal, two clearances
Round 19, 2023: Six disposals, one goal, four clearances
Round 8, 2024 (v Essendon): 10 disposals, one goal, two clearances
Round 14, 2024: 10 disposals, three goal assists, two clearances
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“He is the one that is setting it up; his player ratings numbers in those games are top five – the reason, the instigator for these comebacks … it’s almost gone undersold, because it’s become the norm.”
Having avoided an eventual tag in most matches this year, how Brad Scott and his Bombers counter his output tomorrow night remains to be seen.
In saying that, there have been times where Daicos’ influence has certainly been modified at both stoppage and around the ground.
Although he didn’t tag him, midfielder Marcus Windhager helped hold Daicos to 22 disposals earlier this year in Round 2 by quelling him at stoppages throughout the match.
More recently, Demon Alex Neal-Bullen kept Daicos to just 15 disposals in their King’s Birthday clash last month before the Pie was subbed out with a shin concern.
And now, Montagna is calling for a rising young gun to step up to the Daicos plate.
“I think there is one man that Essendon have to use, and that is Sam Durham,” Montagna declared.
“Durham, who is the spiritual leader of that midfield for Essendon, he’s done it before (on Bontempelli).
“Let’s see if he can do the quinella; he’s gone the best player in the comp, now there’s the other best player in the comp, because he’s the right match-up. He’s got the leg-speed to go with him, he’s got the discipline and he’s got the defensive attitude.
“You have to have a plan – we’ve spoken about this now for however long – and I think this guy is the one.”
Daicos so far averages 30.5 disposals, over seven clearances and a touch under a goal a game this season in what has arguably been his best year to date.