Nick Daicos: Collingwood is ready to contend for 2025 premiership after disappointing 2024

Collingwood is coming into the 2025 season with the oldest list in the competition, but young superstar Nick Daicos says the Pies’ young guns will help push the club to more success.

Collingwood star Nick Daicos has strongly backed the club’s young talent stocks to keep challenging the experienced veterans on the AFL’s oldest list, insisting the Magpies can be back in the premiership window next year – and beyond.

The Copeland Trophy winner and Brownlow Medal runner-up believes Craig McRae’s Magpies will head into 2025 a fitter, faster and hungrier outfit than they were 12 months ago.

Speaking exclusively to the Herald Sun as part of the club’s new five-year sponsorship deal with Emirates, Daicos said the long pre-season break and the sting of missing out on finals on percentage this year had put the Magpies on track to become a flag challenger again.

Collingwood’s Nick Daicos says the Pies can rebound after a disappointing 2024. Picture: Mark Stewart

“Every year going into a season you like to think we are a genuine chance to win the premiership, and I think we are well and truly in the window,” Daicos said.

He said the Magpies’ list management team had strengthened the club’s 2025 prospects with key acquisitions including dual All-Australian Dan Houston, versatile former Giant Harry Perryman and delisted Saint free agent Tim Membrey.

But the 21-year-old said those who were underestimating or underselling the club’s next generation of players would do so at their own peril.

“Leppa (Collingwood list boss Justin Leppitsch) and (the) list management (team) have done a really good job in bringing in some big recruits,” he said.

“Even in training, the draftees (and young players) have been training really strongly so far. I think we are in a really good place (list-wise).”

“We’re going to be a lot better team than we were last year. Hopefully every year we can improve. Our coaches are the best coaches and some of the tactical and strategic things they put into our game ongoing will make us a better team, and that’s crucial for us.”

PIES’ EDGE

Daicos said there had been a “real edge” to pre-season training so far, which could see the team return to their 2023 premiership form.

“We are always really competitive (on the track), but it does feel like the boys have come back with a real intent,” he said.

“We didn’t start the year strongly this year (losing the first three games), but we are hoping that a good start (in 2025) can set up our season.

“I think obviously not playing finals (this year) was a bit of a different experience in terms of the times you start back training.

Collingwood’s preseason has had a ‘real edge’ according to Nick Daicos. Picture: Michael Klein

“We came back early and the boys are super motivated to feature in the finals. So many of the boys are running PBs and lifting PBs in the gym.

“The list seems really healthy compared (to this time last year). It is good when you look around the track and the majority of the boys are out there. They have already done a mountain of work in the off-season to ensure they came into pre-season training in good shape. Hopefully that can now lead through to Christmas and into the practice matches.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Collingwood’s ‘all-in’ push to chase a 17th VFL-AFL flag in 2025 had some questioning whether the Magpies list could be headed for a fall beyond next year. But Daicos says he has seen enough on the track to suggest the future is bright for the club’s under-23s.

“Ed Allan is a really interesting one to watch,” Daicos said. “His potential is unbelievable.”

“I think he can be an absolute superstar. He showed us some great signs in the last round and I hope he gets a good crack at it with his body.”

Allan, 20, has played only two AFL games in two seasons since being taken as pick 19 in the 2022 draft. But his breakout game against Melbourne in the final round this year – where he had 21 disposals (including 10 contested) and kicked a goal – franked his strong potential.

Nick Daicos is predicting Ed Allan to have a breakout season for the Pies. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.

“There are so many young players who are going well … Reef McInnes is playing down back and looks awesome at the moment. Finlay Macrae and Ned Long are also going well.”

He also suggested a slimmed-down Isaac Quaynor could return to his 2023 All-Australian squad form, says Hill can take his game to the next level and backed De Goey to overcome the injury issues that saw him play only 13 games this year.

“Jordy is super fit at the moment,” he said. “He is in a really good headspace and is motivated for the upcoming season. (He is) excited to get his body back fit and firing and we know how good he can be for us.”

He said of Quaynor: “Q is such a good leader in the way he trains and the standards he sets for us. He looks super lean and I’m excited to see where he takes it.”

He backed veteran stars Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom and Jeremy Howe to maintain their form and impact, saying “they are proven superstars … the best thing about those three is their on-field leadership. We all try to absorb the knowledge they give us.”

GETTING DAN IN THE DOOR

Daicos is contracted to Collingwood until the end of the 2029 season, so it is only natural that he keeps a close eye on the club’s list management strategies. And he couldn’t be more excited that Houston made it to Collingwood – for personal and professional reasons.

He has known Houston since his school days – the pair were years apart at Camberwell Grammar, but knew each other well – and he did speak with him through the trade process.

But he played down any role he might have played in coaxing Houston to the AIA Centre.

“I was just checking in on him to see how he was going as a mate, but I also had a keen interest in him coming to Collingwood,” Daicos explained.

“All of us at the club are super-invested in how the list shapes up.

“Watching him (Houston) kick at training, it is going to be nice for the leading forwards.”

Dan Houston was a major get for Collingwood during the trade period. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.

BEING NICK DAICOS

Daicos is mentally and physically refreshed and ready to launch into 2025 after the longest off-season break of his AFL career.

He was at the MCG on grand final day to see Brisbane Lions quench the pain of last year’s heartbreaking loss, and it served to make him more desperate to help the Magpies plot a pathway back to the last Saturday in September next year.

“As competitors, we all aspire to be there on the day … credit to Brisbane, they just missed out last year and took a bit from the game.

“They (grand finals) are so hard to win … hopefully we can use it as a source of motivation.”

Daicos enjoyed a holiday in Fiji with partner Arlette Amor before going on a Monster Energy training camp to the US with his brother Josh and a few close mates.

Nick Daicos on the track in November. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.

He watched UFC in New York, saw some NBA matches including one involving Australian Josh Giddey, watched NFL superstar Saquon Barkley play live for the Philadelphia Eagles and even spent some time in Scottsdale, Arizona.

“I feel super fit and my body is in a really good place,” he said.

“I saw plenty of sport … I’m really into my NBA and getting into the NFL now, so it is good to see those athletes up close.

Asked how he copes with the intense focus that has been on him since joining Collingwood as a father-son pick, Daicos said he feels privileged to be a professional athlete.

“I am a 21-year-old kid that plays footy, and that’s something I’m grateful for,” he said.

“But there is more to life than playing footy. I don’t get lost in that.

“My partner works in a cancer hospital … so you get that sort of perspective daily.

“We’re a really close group at the club. The boys, as a team, do a good job of connecting off the field as well as on it.

“We’re super motivated … and want to be the best we can be.”