Tony Shaw says Collingwood must draft Peter Daicos, Gavin Brown’s sons to secure legacy

COLLINGWOOD great Tony Shaw believes the legacy of Peter Daicos and Gavin Brown is so great the Magpies must secure their sons at the AFL Draft.

TONY Shaw believes the legacy of Peter Daicos and Gavin Brown is so great Collingwood must secure their sons at Friday night’s AFL draft.

The Magpies have not committed to Josh Daicos and Callum Brown, telling the families they will disregard emotion and stay true to their talent order.

But recruiters say it is a near certainty the pair of smalls will continue their famous lineage and join fellow father-son Darcy Moore on Nathan Buckley’s list.

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Hardnut Brown has been likened to premiership midfielder Caleb Daniel, while Daicos’s positioning and pedigree have some thinking he has star potential.

The dream result for the Pies is to use their No.28 pick on another player before father-son bids come – and that is likely to happen.

A bid for Brown is tipped for the 30s, while Melbourne could call Daicos at pick 47.

Josh Daicos could attract a draft pick in the 40s. Picture: Mark Dadswell

Shaw rates 1990 premiership teammates Brown and Daicos in the best few Collingwood players he has ever seen.

“Daicos is up there with anything, and you talk about Brown – he was an out-and-out superstar,” Shaw said.

“It would be amazing to have their two boys run around together and hopefully have long careers like their fathers.

“They’ve got a lot live up to, a lot of pressure, but having good parents like they are I think they’ll get over that pretty quickly.

“If they have even a skerrick of the ability those two had it’ll be amazing for our footy club.”

The Magpies overlooked Craig Stewart’s son James (Essendon) in 2012, but Shaw said this year was different.

Callum Brown in action for Vic Metro. Picture: Mark Stewart

“No disrespect, but I don’t think Craig’s legacy wasn’t as great as the other two,” Shaw said.

“The other two are household names. Daics was a sensational midfielder before he did his knee, and then became a small forward who kicked 97 goals in a premiership year and was just freakish.

“And Brown was one of the greatest competitors. He was as tough as any man I’ve seen.”

Brown’s younger brother Tyler and Daicos’s younger brother Nick will also be eligible for the Pies in coming years.

Both boys are passionate Pie fans and Josh Daicos said it would be “a great story to continue where dad left off”.

Brown averaged 24 disposals and 121 SuperCoach pts for Eastern Ranges and models his game on Fremantle star Lachie Neale.

Daicos studied Lachie Whitfield closely this year and is building his endurance.

Essendon coach John Worsfold’s premiership success at West Coast has helped the Bombers dismiss concerns on likely No.1 pick Andy McGrath’s height.

Ben Long was a star in Footscray’s run to the VFL premiership.

But McGrath is taller than listed – the Brighton Grammar school captain measuring 179cm and not the 177cm recorded at the draft combine.

The Eagles won the 2006 flag with Ben Cousins, Michael Braun and Daniel Kerr all standing less than 180cm.

The Western Bulldogs might have to pounce on Footscray premiership star Ben Long with their second pick, with Melbourne circling at No.47.

The nephew of Essendon great Michael Long dropped jaws with six goals in the VFL preliminary final.

Recruiters aren’t certain who the Bombers will take and while most clubs have the same 20 or so names at the top, the order remains a mystery.

In the most even draft on record, one club said up to 30 players could be in the mix for most selections beyond the first group.

Originally published as Tony Shaw says Collingwood must draft Peter Daicos, Gavin Brown’s sons to secure legacy