Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos
has opened up on why he’s chosen not to rest his ailing body more, with the Magpies sitting pretty atop the AFL ladder. With just six weeks until the finals, some have questioned why the Pies haven’t been managing the workload of their gun midfielder.
Daicos copped a knock against the Suns two weeks ago, but managed to finish the game. He then spent a large chunk of time at half-back against Fremantle, which the Pies lost by a point for their second-straight defeat.
Daicos didn’t look hampered against the Dockers, racking up a career-high 43 disposals. But Channel 7 commentator Kane Cornes questioned whether some of the Collingwood players were pushing through for ‘selfish’ and individual reasons.
“Nick is sore, clearly sore and has been throughout the year,” Cornes said on Channel 7 program ‘The Agenda Setters’ last week. “Is he playing for a Brownlow?
“My theory is that those players are not being managed to get themselves right to win a second or a third premiership in (Scott) Pendlebury’s case. Are they playing for individual reasons more so than getting themselves right when they need to be right (in September)?
“I question whether (Jamie) Elliott is playing for an All-Australian blazer and … Coleman (medal), or is he playing for a premiership? Why hasn’t he had a rest?”
Cornes suggested Daicos might be trying to garner as many
Brownlow votes
as possible, rather than resting with the bigger picture of finals footy in mind. But speaking to Channel 7 on Tuesday night, the midfielder explained why he hasn’t taken a break.
Nick Daicos opens up on decision to keep playing
Daicos said he feels much better when continuing to play, as it means he doesn’t have to build himself back up after a rest. “I’m feeling really good,” he told 7News Melbourne. “My body likes continuity and just to continue being out there playing is the main thing for me. Body’s feeling really good. It’s a good time to be feeling good coming into finals so just need to stay on top of everything.”
Daicos pointed out that after two losses on the bounce, the Pies are no guarantee to keep the top spot. Brisbane are now just two points in arrears, while Adelaide are only four points back.
“Definitely doesn’t feel like we have a comfortable buffer,” Daicos said. “I know the boys are keen to continue playing … ultimately we need to be playing good footy going into the finals. We’ve got to continue to win and put ourselves in the best position going into finals.”
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Speaking after their loss to the Dockers, Collingwood coach Craig McRae said he’s worried his team might have lost some of their ‘spark’ in close games. Their one-point loss to Freo came nine days after they fell six points short against the Suns – an uncharacteristic trait under McRae.
“This is not something you’ve ever got handled because every game is opportunity,” McRae said in his post-game press conference. “Managing those moments will forever be something we need to do. If the scoreboard is an indication, we haven’t managed it well enough (in the last two weeks).
“We’ve lost three close games this year. Have we lost our spark? You’d hope not. But reality is, we’ll keep getting better at it. I’d rather learn these lessons now.”
This article originally appeared on Yahoo Sport Australia at
https://au.news.yahoo.com/nick-daicos-offers-explanation-after-kane-cornes-floats-ugly-theory-around-brownlow-medal-225345029.html
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