Flags, family and fairytales: Josh Daicos on the magic of footy and hunting a second premiership in 2024
Last season was a childhood fairytale for Josh Daicos, but the winger wants to make sure that’s not the end of the story. He speaks to GLENN McFARLANE about his magical 2023 and what he’s hoping will come from 2024.
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It was the childhood dream that blossomed into a fairytale reality, but Collingwood star Josh Daicos is determined to make sure that isn’t the end of the story.
Far from it. He wants more.
Six months on from the Magpies’ remarkable 2023 premiership success, the elder of the Daicos brothers is adamant the collective hunger among his teammates is every bit as voracious as it was last season.
“This season feels like a whole new opportunity, and as a team we are now excited to continue to grow,” Daicos told the Herald Sun ahead of Saturday night’s opening round clash with Greater Western Sydney.
“The whole summer we have worked so hard as a group. Everyone is so hungry after tasting that success. You want it so much more now.
“We are so excited and eager for next Saturday night.”
Daicos, 25, is still pinching himself about what he, his brother Nick and Collingwood were able to achieve in a season that will forever sit in their hearts.
The Pies won a record-equalling 16th VFL-AFL flag in the most thrilling of circumstances.
It came in a season where Nick Daicos took the league by storm in his second season interrupted only by a knee injury which he fought back from in the finals; and Josh capped off his best individual season by not only making the all-Australian team and winning the Copeland Trophy but also winning a cherished premiership medal.
“It was a crazy year,” he said.
“When I look back on it all, and I have now had time to reflect a bit, it was just one big crazy fairytale … even with the birth of Maggie (coach Craig McRae’s daughter on grand final day).
“I was incredibly honoured (to win the best and fairest).
“Going into the night there were so many boys who could’ve won it, and deservedly so. I feel so grateful to have had the great privilege of winning the award.
“When I look back on how many great players at the club have won a Copeland Trophy, I feel very proud to have my name etched into that (premiership) year alongside them.”
To put Daicos’ achievement into context, he is one of only nine Collingwood players to have won a best and fairest in a premiership year, joining an incredibly select group of Magpie superstars – Syd Coventry, Harry Collier (twice), Albert Collier (twice), Jack Regan, Bob Rose, Thorold Merrett, Tony Shaw and Dane Swan.
‘BURN THE BOATS’
The Copeland Trophy was a reward for Josh’s persistence, a trait that has helped transform him from a father-son pick who initially battled to find his right role with the Magpies’ team into one of the best wingmen in the competition.
He played 17 games in his first three seasons, but has not missed a beat in the past four seasons, and has thrived even more so under McRae’s tutelage.
“It took me a few years to mature, but I look back on those years and I am so grateful for what I had to go through because I am the person I am now because of those experiences,” he said. “It was incredibly tough. It was amazing their (Collingwood’s) belief to keep giving me a go and trying new roles for me.”
The support he received from the club and his family steeled him for the challenge.
“For me, it was always ‘burn the boats’ … go all the way and try to give it everything I have got to one day play for a Collingwood team that is right up the top,” he said.
Daicos hasn’t missed a game in the past two seasons, and has thrived on the extra pressure and attention he has received in recent years.
“For me, personally, if I am not waking up feeling nervous about going out and doing what I have to do to achieve (good results) or training-wise in the pre-season, then I don’t think I have set my goals high enough,” he said.
“I love the pressure.
“I think it gets me out of my comfort zone. It keeps me on my toes and always keeps me pushing for more, which I think brings out the best in me.
BROTHERLY LOVE
Thirteen years ago, 12-year-old Nick and eight-year-old Josh Daicos played a part with their legendary dad Peter in the unfurling of Collingwood’s 2010 flag.
It’s a memory that still brings a smile to Josh’s face, as he recalls how the brothers hoped back then that they could play a more meaningful role in securing the next flag.
“I remember that 2010 season because Nick and I were the most passionate Pies fans that year,” he said this week. “That was one of the best years of our lives, and to be a part of unfurling the flag was amazing.
“Something Nick and I always had aspirations to play for Collingwood, and to hopefully one day win a premiership together. It’s a dream come true.”
The Daicos boys were born four years apart, but their family connection and their passion for football has made them almost inseparable over the years.
Part of that bond you can clearly see extends to the football field.
Josh explained: “We’ve always been attached to the hip, he used to hang around with my mates who were older, and we have spent so much time through the years practising.”
“We are so fortunate. The age gap is four years but it was close enough that we could still practise together. Dad would always take us to the park together from a young age.
“It was a lot of hard work but we loved it. It was never a chore. We loved the work.
“As we got older, we understood there was a possibility of it (playing for Collingwood) happening and we are just so grateful now to be in the position we are in … to be at Collingwood after the family ties there.”
‘TAKE THE STEPS’ DOCO
Josh and Nick sat down at home recently for a private screening of Collingwood’s 2023 finals documentary, Take The Steps, as the memories of last season came flooding back.
The thing that stood out for Josh was just how tenuous Nick’s recovery from a late season knee injury was, as it threatened to end his season prematurely.
“Obviously I spoke to him at the time and tried to check in with him about his injury, but I knew he would always be thinking about it,” Josh said.
“So I wanted to almost distract him or keep him busy when I was with him, so he could almost feel as if he was at peace with it.
“I probably didn’t realise how much stress he was under. I didn’t even realise the full extent of the injury, in terms of how fragile an injury like that can be when you return.
“That was really awesome to see … the struggle to get back and the reward at the end of it.”
Nick missed the Magpies’ first final, but was back for the preliminary final and his performance in the grand final – particularly his no-look handball that set up Jordan De Goey’s late goal – has become part of Collingwood finals folklore.
“I watched it (the documentary) with Nick, it was pretty cool,” Josh said. “It was a real chance to reflect on the year we had and our media team did an amazing job in putting it together.
“It was amazing to see Pendles’ (Scott Pendlebury’s) story, from winning a premiership early in his career and then being starved of it for so long.
“There are so many good stories in it, with Darcy Moore, Pendles, Nick and ‘Fly’ (Craig McRae). I think one of my favourite bits is just seeing us after a game and how we celebrate with one another, and with our families as well. We always bring the families around for the ride because they sacrifice so much to allow us to do what we do.”
THE DAICOS LEGACY
When Josh embraced his parents Peter and Colleen in the moments after last year’s premiership success, he spared a thought for his late grandfather ‘Stan’.
‘Stan’ Daicos was the patriarch of the Daicos family, and his passion for hard work and humble nature has rubbed off on those closest to him.
He died last March, aged 87.
He and his wife Filomila (Phyllis) created a life far removed from their small village in Macedonia.
As his death notice said last March, “You built a wonderful life for yourself and your family after arriving in Australia as a young boy. Hard work and helping others was what you were about. We always admired your humble, selfless and loving ways.”
Josh said of his paternal grandfather: “Stan has always been a huge inspiration to us. His story of coming to Australia and what he had to go through at such a young age, the maturity he showed and the work ethic he had is incredible.”
Dad (Peter) learnt a lot of his work ethic from him, which in turn got passed down to Nick and I. Without him (Stan), we wouldn’t be in the position we are. He sacrificed so much for us and it was incredibly sad around this time last year when we lost him.
“He was so proud of everyone in the family, he was always such a joyful character.”
‘Stan’ was a South Melbourne supporter, and as much as his son Peter became a Collingwood superstar across 250 games and 549 goals, and his grandsons Josh and Nick are now following suit, he kept that passion for the Swans until his dying days.
“He always had a soft spot for Nick and I and all the boys at Collingwood, but he was very loyal to his Swannies … he loved them.”
Josh learnt this week that ‘Stan’ was born in a Collingwood premiership year – 1936 – and died in one – 2023.
The year of Stan’s birth was also the last time the Magpies have won back to back premierships, with Collingwood aiming to do it again this year.
PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE
After the joyful chaos of last September’s premiership, Josh and his partner Anna spent time travelling overseas.
“It was almost the most peaceful few weeks after a season I had ever had,” he said. “The first few days of celebrating with the club and the fans was unbelievable.
“Then Anna and I went to Europe, we went to Italy, France and the UK. I was lucky enough that (Tottenham Hotspur manager) Ange (Postecoglou) opened his arms for Anna and I go to the Tottenham facility to watch them train,
“It was so good. You can draw inspiration from the stories and the journeys of those players and to see them up close and watch the way they prepare for games was incredible.
“I took so much from it.”
Daicos was also able to meet NFL legend Tom Brady on his recent tour of Australia, learning more about the pursuit of excellence from top end superstars.
“I think that’s what our environment (at Collingwood) is like,” he said. “It has never been so much about outcomes, it has been more about playing the long-term game, knowing there are no shortcuts to where you want to go.
“What all those people have in common (Brady and co) is they strive to get better every day, and that has been a theme of ours, too.
“That pursuit of always trying to find things to add to your game, to find an edge on the competition.
“It was great to see Tom (Brady) and to listen to him talk about his journey. There are so many players in our team who can draw parallels to his career …. He was overlooked and then through hard work he has found a way through that.”
FLY, HIS ASSISTANTS AND THE BLACK AND WHITE ARMY
Collingwood’s storytelling under McRae and his assistant coaches is something which is driving this current Magpies’ era, according to Josh Daicos.
“From day one, ‘Fly’ (McRae) has always had really good philosophies and themes for us,” he said. “You are always looking to dial back in and retain your focus throughout the course of the year and he has done an amazing job of keeping the group engaged.
“We have an amazing leadership group and with all the lines coaches do a great job.
“That’s the great thing about our coach and our staff, we have so many people who specialise in different parts of the game.”
He said assistant coaches Scott Selwood and Hayden Skipworth had been important in helping him produce a career-best 2023 season.
“‘Scoot’ (Selwood) has been massive for me. He has been at the club a long time now and he just instils so much in the group,
“‘Skippy’ (Skipworth) is very similar. He teaches specific craft to the game, better than almost anyone.
“‘Fly’ has just done a great job of letting everyone show their strengths and speak up.”
Daicos said the power of the Collingwood army played a massive role in the club’s three narrow finals wins last season.
“We always refer to them as our 19th player,” he said. “I’ve really seen it first-hand over the last two seasons. They have risen to the occasion every time we have needed them.
“In the finals last year they were immense. We are so thankful for that. That’s why every chance we can get … we want to give back to them.
“We don’t take it for granted.”
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