Pies unleash radical Nick Daicos tactic in AFL’s ‘biggest learning point’

AFL greats have discussed a revolutionary Collingwood tactic from last Saturday night that could change the way the game is played.

Has Collingwood created a radical new AFL tactic?

The Magpies’ use of Nick Daicos at the final centre bounce stoppage of Saturday night’s narrow loss to Geelong has been labelled the “biggest learning point for the code” by an AFL great.

With Collingwood down by four points with 20 seconds remaining in the game, Daicos moved entirely away from the centre bounce and dragged Geelong’s Oisin Mullin with him, giving the Pies’ other midfielders more space and turning the contest into a 3 vs 3 instead of a 4 vs 4.

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“Everyone is going ‘what the hell is he doing?’ And you’re thinking this is brilliant, open it up the best you can,” Saints legend Leigh Montagna said watching back the vision in The First Crack.

Geelong was able to force a secondary stoppage, before Magpie Darcy Cameron caught opposing ruckman Mark Blicavs holding the ball to set up Jack Crisp’s after-the-siren miss.

Dual premiership Kangaroo David King thinks it’s a revolutionary move that “should change centre bounces” for other teams with elite ruckmen to try emulate.

Has Collingwood created a radical new AFL tactic?

“I want to talk about what I think is the biggest learning point for the game and code, not just what Craig McRae exposed here,” King said on The First Crack.

“I don’t even know whose idea it was … I’m thinking, maybe don’t use Nick next time, but this move still works.

“It doesn’t really matter who goes there, this should change centre bounces for a little while. Particularly — or only — if you have a dominant ruckman.”

Montagna would love to see other coaches be “more creative in general” with moves like this.

“It feels like they’re scared to try something different in case it backfires,” the dual All-Australian said.

“But why shouldn’t another team try that if you’ve got a dominant ruckman? Open some space.

“Because it means Oisin Mullin it that situation would to make a decision. Does he stay at the circle and have a 3 v 2 to advantage, but you’re leaving a player 15 metres goal side? You can’t do it.”

King thinks Melbourne is the club that could most effectively utilise the tactic given the dominance of star ruckman Max Gawn.

“It made me think of Melbourne. Is Simon Goodwin watching this game thinking: ‘Why aren’t we being more explorative with what we’ve got? This No. 1 asset in the game’,” King added.

Nick Daicos (right) was utilised in the unusual tactic. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

“Why don’t they take a player and slide them 10 yards forward? And (Gawn would) say: ‘Right, are you going to go with him or not? If you don’t I win 56 per cent of the hit-outs. You’re in trouble because I’m the most dominant force in the game in this area’.

“Why not separate the whole lot? The idea is to put it your advantage. Max Gawn is going to win that contest, there’s nothing surer.”

King pointed out the Demons are ranked fifth in the AFL in scoring from centre bounces and rank average for points differential from centre bounces.

“They’re muddling sort of numbers for this asset,” he continued.

“Why aren’t they trying this? Why aren’t they trying to get a three-goal advantage on their opposition every week from this asset that cannot be interrupted? You can’t change it, it’s set in stone.”

Originally published as Pies unleash radical Nick Daicos tactic in AFL’s ‘biggest learning point’