‘Family wasn’t happy’: Daicos reflects on reality TV experience

Collingwood legend Peter Daicos has revealed some recent health battles made him reluctant to head to the jungle but he couldn’t be more proud to have survived 25 days.

Peter Daicos with his wife, Colleen Daicos, and sons Nick and Josh. Picture: Getty Images

Collingwood legend Peter Daicos says some recent health battles had made him waver on going into the jungle, but he couldn’t be more proud to have survived 25 days in South Africa.

Daicos was voted off I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! on Monday night and said it was five times as hard as he’d thought it would be.

“I’ll be honest, the family wasn’t happy,’’ Daicos, 62, said.

“Part of me wanted to do it because of the challenge, but I’d had some health problems and I said if I can get through something like this and I was getting stronger mentally, then I could say I’m back.

“I had a hernia in 2022 and it’s taken me a little while. It changed the way I eat and I lost a lot of weight. The recovery was a lot slower than if I’d had it done even five years ago but mentally and physically I feel good and that’s why I wanted to do it.”

Peter Daicos after leaving the jungle

Daicos said he got himself “in the zone” and said his plan to have a cold shower each morning and a swim in the chilly water during the day kept him feeling sharp.

The first thing he did when he emerged was check the footy scores to see how his sons Josh and Nick and the Magpies had been going.

“I am honestly rapt to have got through it,’’ Daicos said, adding that he’d lost 10kgs.

“Someone said something about conscious eating and simple things like eating a banana, which was the first bit of sugar I had, I used to look at it and just throw it in the bin.

“I can’t wait to speak to the boys. They are so proud and so is (my daughter) Maddie and (wife) Coll. That’s the thing, they’re in the public eye and part of it was, ‘dad, don’t say anything you shouldn’t say’. I said before I went I know how I’m going to handle it.”

Daicos admits he didn’t recognise any of the other celebrities, except Frankie Muniz, but said it was a team effort with everyone supporting and lifting each other up to get through. He thinks reality star Callum Hole will win.

Peter and wife Colleen with their son Nick after he was drafted. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“He is unique and this is about personality and he’s full of life,’’ Daicos said.

Daicos will catch up on footy replays when he returns and will be at the MCG on Saturday to watch his beloved Collingwood take on Port Adelaide.

Earlier on the show, he said he’s proud to have been “an original” and not a standard type of footballer.

Reflecting on his dream career more than 30 years on, Daicos says he misses the adrenaline rush of footy but still feels the love from Magpies supporters who have also embraced his sons, premiership stars Josh and Nick.

“I was a different type of player, didn’t rely on hard running. I was more get it, buy a bit of time, space, and then I could get it on. One thing I could do is use the ball,’’ he said.

“My focus was always on the football, so I didn’t know what was coming. All I used to look at was basically socks and feet and basically just paddle the ball and work my way through the maze.

“I knew how good I was, no one could do what I could do. And I’m not being (arrogant). I’m proud of being an original. I’m not your proto standard thing. I was different with the way I played, the way I moved. Josh can do things along similar lines, and I think Nick also. The movements, the way they approach on the ball, maybe it’s after they get the ball, just what they do to buy space or get the ball on.”

Collingwood legend Peter Daicos on I’m a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!

In a conversation with jungle campmate Brittany Hockley on I’m a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!, Daicos admitted he’s never been able to fill the void of adrenaline since he retired after 250 games and a premiership.

Chatting ahead of being evicted from the jungle on Monday night, Daicos says he’ll always make time for the fans and anyone asking for a photo.

“I still pinch myself today how lucky I’ve been to have had that opportunity to play, for especially Collingwood,’’ Daicos said.

“Forget about who runs the club, it’s Collingwood, and the supporters are gold.

“I still feel Collingwood fans have kept me close. I’ve always got time for people. Sometimes my family get frustrated, I walk through the crowd, ‘Daics can I’ve a photo’, I stop for everyone. Every single person. If it takes me an hour to get around, it takes me an hour, I do it.”

Daicos playing for Collingwood in 1990.

Daicos said he’s encouraged his sons Josh and Nick to embrace the adoration from fans.

“The supporters, they’re no.1 and they make it what it is,’’ he said.

“It’s brought me a lot of riches in respect to, and I’m not talking money, I’m just talking fulfilment. I say to my boys, if they come up and ask you for a photo, I never want to see a photo (where) I can tell you don’t want to be in a photo because that’ll break my heart. I used to walk up to Buddy (Franklin) and ask for a photo and he’d say no worries.

“I used to look at your face, it was like you’d hit the jackpot. If I got a photo of a player and it looked like the guy didn’t want to be in it I’d rip it up.”

Daicos spoke of the time Sydney great Adam Goodes signed footballs for his sons.

“I saw Adam Goodes on the table next to us (at the Hall of Fame) and I thought the boys loved him and I said can you sign this ball for my sons,” Daicos said.

“He said how many sons you got? I said two, Josh and Nick. He said mate take this one too, he took the footy off his table and that was brilliant.”