AFL trade and contract news: Nick and Josh Daicos re-sign, Max Holmes to stay at Geelong, Esava Ratugolea more likely to leave

Collingwood has sealed a double coup with both Nick and Josh Daicos to remain Magpies until 2029, with the Brownlow Medal favourite saying it was a “no-brainer” for them to recommit.

Max Holmes is staying a Cat. Picture: Getty Images

Brownlow Medal favourite Nick Daicos says it was a “no-brainer” for he and his brother Josh to recommit to Collingwood on mega extension deals which will see them play in black and white for the next six seasons.

In a massive boost for the Magpies a month out from the AFL finals, the two most talked-about brothers in AFL footy at the moment are now locked away until the end of the 2029 season.

Nick was already contracted until the end of 2025 and Josh was locked in until the end of next year, but the Magpies have been working hard to extend the deals for both players.

The siblings took part in an impromptu fans’ online Q&A session on Wednesday afternoon to express their delight about locking into the club for the rest of the decade.

“I’m super excited … with where the team is headed,” Nick Daicos said. “We have a great culture here and I love coming in here every day and getting to work.

“It was a bit of a no-brainer decision for the both of us.”

Josh, who has become an elite wingman across the past two seasons, added: “We are pumped for the journey ahead, we are obviously loving our time at the club and can’t wait for another six years wearing the black and white stripes.”

Nick’s existing two-year deal – taking in 2024 and 2025 – has a range of incentives which will see him relatively well compensated across the next two seasons.

But the following four seasons taking in 2026 to 2029 is understood to see him on around $1.1 million per season which would also be reflective of the AFL’s new collective bargaining uptick.

Nick and Josh Daicos enjoy another Magpie win together. Picture: Michael Klein.

He won’t be even close to being the highest paid player in the competition during the life of that deal, which means it won’t force Collingwood to sacrifice on other players or limit the prospect of bringing in new stars.

Importantly, the club was keen to ensure that the Daicos brothers were not too far apart in terms of their reward, given the camaraderie they share and given their outstanding form this season, which should see them rewarded with their first All-Australian blazers this season.

The sons of Collingwood legend Peter Daicos are well placed to emulate their famous father in the coming years by playing in a Magpies’ premiership side.

Peter played 250 games and kicked 549 goals for Collingwood from 1979 to 1993, meaning his son’s new deals will expire 50 years after his debut game for the Magpies.

Nick said the club’s on-field success this season has been fuelled by the Collingwood army, saying the support from the other side of the fence had been instrumental so far in 2023.

“The energy and support you give us week in and week out, whether we win or lose, you guys show up and are our 24th man every week,” Nick said.

“Even when we travel, you are there. We can’t thank you enough for your support this year.”

Nick said his early heroes were Josh and his dad Peter and he was grateful to be able to play alongside his brother as well as long-time role models in Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom.

“At the moment the team is growing, it is growing from last year, and hopefully we can continue that trajectory,” Nick said.

“Fly (coach Craig McRae) and the coaching staff have been great in implementing a game style that allows us to express our strengths.

“Hopefully we can continue to play good, exciting footy.”

The Pies have locked up their two stars. Photo by Michael Klein.

The man who helped broker the deals, Collingwood general manager of football Graham Wright, said the club was delighted to have secured the Daicos brothers for the long-term.

Wright, who played in the 1990 premiership alongside Peter Daicos, said it was an endorsement of Collingwood’s AFL program, which has seen the club sit atop of the ladder for most of the season.

“Josh and Nick are both quality young men and talented footballers and we are looking forward to seeing them in the black-and-white stripes for years to come,” Wright said.

“Josh continues to impress and has really shown consistency in his form across the last couple of seasons. The work that he puts into his craft as a footballer combined with his determination to become better every day should be commended.

“Nick, in only his second season and with 44 games under his belt at the elite level, is continuing to grow as a footballer.

“Like his brother Josh, Nick’s professionalism, preparation and attention to detail is consistently elite and it is these habits which will hold them both in good stead for years to come.

“Both young men are great ambassadors for our Club. They are incredibly positive and outgoing people and have an openness and appetite to continue to learn and develop as people and footballers and we look forward to continuing to support that development at Collingwood.”

Josh was picked up as a father-son selection as pick 57 in the 2016 national draft, while Nick was also a father-son pick, taken at No. 4 in the 2021 draft.

RUMOUR THAT SENT CAT’S SUITORS INTO FRENZY

Jon Ralph

Max Holmes will remain at Geelong as the centrepiece of the club’s midfield rebuild despite being bombarded with interest from rival clubs.

But the Cats could struggle to hold onto Esava Ratugolea given interest from three rivals as midfielder Brandon Parfitt also assesses his future.

Holmes was a controversial omission from the 2022 premiership with a hamstring issue despite passing all of his Grand Final week fitness tests in a decision coach Chris Scott admitted was “brutal”.

The decision to overlook him had given rise to constant speculation he was disgruntled at Geelong, with nearly every one of the Cats’ 17 rivals asking questions of his contract status as the speculation gained traction.

Cats captain Patrick Dangerfield said entering the season Holmes had “Judd-like traits”, stating: “I believe he could be the best player in the competition at some stage”.

But his manager Tom Seccull, of Hemisphere Management, told the Herald Sun on Monday Holmes had no intention of fielding offers at the end of the season.

Max Holmes is tipped to be a star for the Cats. Picture: Getty Images

Holmes, who turns 21 next month, will likely wait until next year to sign a new deal past 2024 after only signing his first contract extension in July of that 2022 contract year.

But Seccull made clear on Monday the laid-back midfielder saw his future at Geelong after buying a house in local suburb Belmont.

“He is really happy and invested in the future of the club and really settled,” he said.

“He is contracted for next year and we will sit down with the club and chat through his future when the time is right.”

Despite reports Ratugolea is a certainty to get to Port Adelaide next year the Power are optimistic but far from guaranteed he will choose them as a trade destination.

The Herald Sun reported last month he has parked contract talks until year’s end, with Hawthorn and Essendon also interested observers.

Essendon is a strong contender for Roos free agent Ben McKay, with his manager Adam Ramanauskas saying over the season he had a decision to make that would likely wait until year’s end.

Parfitt could return to the Geelong side this weekend after strong VFL form but since playing in the premiership he had featured in only five games.

The 25-year-old had played 112 games in his first five seasons and had remained determined only to focus on winning his spot back in the first half of the season.

But having not featured at AFL level since round 11, rival suitors will have him in their sights given his clearance strengths.

Ratugolea was also flagged as a possible inclusion by Chris Scott against Port Adelaide, his strongest AFL suitor, as the Cats attempt to resuscitate their finals hopes after a worrying GMHBA Stadium loss to Fremantle.

Originally published as AFL trade and contract news: Nick and Josh Daicos re-sign, Max Holmes to stay at Geelong, Esava Ratugolea more likely to leave