Nick Daicos ‘diving’ act slammed by former Lions star Tom Rockliff

A former AFL star has ripped into Collingwood star Nick Daicos for an unforgivable act that’s sure to catch the attention of the MRO.

Nick Daicos dropped like a bag of spuds. Photo: Fox Footy.

Former Lions and Power star Tom Rockliff has ripped into Collingwood’s Nick Daicos after a moment during the Pies’ upset loss to Hawthorn saw the former inside midfielder seeing red.

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“Umpires again sucked in,” Rockliff wrote on Twitter after the incident.

“Imagine taking a dive like Nick Daicos just did and getting a free kick for it.

“Wonder if the MRO (Match Review Officer) will look at that for diving or for striking?

“It has to be one. And he missed his face by 1m so I know what they should do.”

The clash got feisty at times, with melees breaking out between players after a Dan McStay goal early in the third quarter, with Daicos winning a free kick after his own clash with Hawthorn’s Seamus Mitchell.

Rockliff followed up with a video of the incident, saying that Mitchell “missed his head”.

“Clear chest and threw his head back,” Rockliff wrote of Daicos.

“Staging or striking … it’s one or the other.”

Oh for reference…

Missed his head, clear chest and threw his head back.

Staging or striking…

It’s one or the other #staginghttps://t.co/20mQjp7hX9pic.twitter.com/wfltVNrRyv

— Tom Rockliff (@rockwiz38) August 5, 2023

Rockliff has previously criticised the umpiring approach, saying during his playing days that his teams may need to start playing for free kicks.

After a 2013 loss to Port Adelaide in which his Brisbane side lost the free kick count 22-11, Rockliff said players may need to look to playing for frees in order to win.

“Players are smart and they know how to play and react for free kicks. You flick your head back or you lunge forward, you‘re going to draw the attention of the umpires,” he said at the time.

“You‘ve just got to be really careful. Maybe we can get better at doing that ourselves and learn a few tricks how to dive and throw the head back at times.”

Nick Daicos dropped like a bag of spuds. Photo: Fox Footy.

Daicos went on to kick a goal from his own resulting free kick, but it wasn’t enough to draw back what was at one stage a 44-point lead.

He would eventually leave the game early with an apparent knee injury, one in a trio of injury concerns for the Pies after the shock loss.

Defender Nathan Murphy and Brownlow Medallist Tom Mitchell also had early showers courtesy of an ankle and knee concern respectively.

It was one of the upsets of the season, with the consensus premiership favourites now looking vulnerable after consecutive losses to an inconsistent but resurgent Carlton side, and now last night to an inexperienced Hawthorn line-up.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 05: Players melee after a goal to Nick Daicos of the Magpies (R) during the round 21 AFL match between Hawthorn Hawks and Collingwood Magpies at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on August 05, 2023, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

The Hawks set the pace all afternoon, kicking four goals to nil in the opening quarter and proving largely untroubled the rest of the way in a 16.9 (105) to 11.7 (73) stunner.

“It’s been a great execution of a plan from a Hawthorn perspective,” Dal Santo said on Fox Footy.

“It’s one thing to plot throughout the course of the week to know how the Pies want to play.

“But then to come out here and own the Pies from the word go, it’s been a great, great team performance.”

Garry Lyon echoed his thoughts, calling it “one of the wins of the season”.

The Hawks’ quartet of Jai Newcombe, Will Day, Conor Nash and James Worpel put together the most complete performance of what has been an impressive season, while captain James Sicily was allowed to roam freely, particularly in a 14-disposal first term as he set up the Hawks from behind.

Sicily finished best on ground with 37 disposals and 19 marks, while young defender Finn Maginness helped keep Nick Daicos to just five touches before he tweaked his ankle.

Hawthorn had winners all over the ground, with veteran Luke Breust and fellow forward Brandon Ryan both finishing with three goals.

Sicily cut a beaming figure after the match.

“We’ve been looking forward to this,” he said.

”A challenge against the best in front of a big crowd.

“We want to get used to this. Look good, feel good, play good, retro jumper is awesome.

“But super proud of the boys, awesome result.”