Josh Daicos and Callum Brown want to follow in footsteps of their fathers and play for Collingwood
JOSH Daicos and Callum Brown have spoken about lifelong dreams to continue their rich Collingwood lineage — but know there are no guarantees at the draft.
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JOSH Daicos and Callum Brown on Friday spoke about lifelong dreams to continue their rich Collingwood lineage — but know there are no guarantees at the draft.
The father-son prospects, both less than 180cm, are at the mercy of the complicated bidding system introduced last year and the Magpies’ list strategy.
The Pies hold picks 26, 44 and 62 and Travis Cloke’s exit is unlikely to help the father-son conundrum, given he is expected to be traded to the Western Bulldogs for pick No.72 — a selection that carries no draft points.
The Pies should easily have the points to secure both players — as long as no rival club bids up their value on draft night.
Daicos said it would be “a great story to continue where dad left off” after father Peter played 250 dazzling games, including the 1990 premiership with Brown.
“It’d be awesome. They’ve (Collingwood) kept in touch, but like any kid we’re not really sure,” Daicos said.
“We’ve got to wait until the draft and hopefully we end up together at Collingwood. But just getting on a list is the main goal.”
Brown, the son of former captain Gavin, said the pair coming through in the same year “probably makes it a bit more different”.
“It doesn’t happen every year with (multiple) father-sons,” he said. “But if we can end up together that’d be pretty cool.”
The passionate Magpie fans have not considered what it would be like lining up against the black and white.
“Thinking about it now, it would be extremely weird,” Daicos said.
“Not only supporting the club, but then a lot of the supporters probably wanted you to end up there.”
The pair said they “roughly” understood how the new draft system worked — “but it would’ve been great if they brought it in a bit later”.
Inside midfielder Brown models his game on Fremantle’s Lachie Neale and won All-Australian honours in Vic Metro’s successful campaign.
“He’s a brilliant midfielder,” Daicos said of Brown.
“He continues to improve, whether it’s his fitness or his size and he wins a lot of the ball. He’s always in and under the packs and he competes all day for four quarters.”
Brown is working hard on his overhead marking and tackling and says Daicos boasts natural ability.
“He’s a very skilful player, he gets a lot of the ball, he works hard and always makes good decisions,” Brown said of Daicos.
Recruiters’ views on the improving pair range.
Some have Brown higher on the board because of exposed form, while others say Daicos’s glimpses of brilliance and pedigree and age — he’s still 17 — make him more attractive.
Brown will test at the draft combine but there is a knee query on Daicos, who has worked closely with his father to improve his positioning, kicking and bodywork.
“He’s been massive in my football journey,” Daicos said.
The one-touch player spent the 2016 season studying the aerobic power of GWS wingman Lachie Whitfield and says he is working hard on his running patterns.
“Ball in hand I’m pretty composed and use the ball relatively well,” Daicos said.
“And I’m good below my knees and can take a good mark.”
The boys have long played with and against each other, beginning at Bulleen juniors together.
Originally published as Josh Daicos and Callum Brown want to follow in footsteps of their fathers and play for Collingwood
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