Nick Daicos vows to return for AFL finals despite knee injury

Collingwood star and Brownlow favourite Nick Daicos has revealed the extent of his knee injury and when he hopes to be back.

Injured Pie Nick Daicos is still hoping to play finals. Picture: Michael Klein

Collingwood star Nick Daicos thought his injured knee was “smashed to smithereens” after suffering a blow that could end his season and Brownlow Medal hopes, with six weeks on the sidelines looming.

But as he turned up to the club on crutches on Monday he said he was hopeful he could yet return during the finals.

The Dacios injury has turned the market for the Brownlow Medal upside down and ladder-leader Collingwood’s final hopes taken a hit after confirmation the young gun suffered a hairline fracture in his right knee during Saturday’s shock defeat to Hawthorn.

While Daicos has avoided surgery, recovery time could be up to six weeks for the 20-year-old, but he’s vowed to put the disappointment behind him and do feverish rehab to get back as soon as possible.

“I‘m pretty disappointed, obviously,” Daicos told reporters on Monday.

“I met with the surgeon (and) don‘t need surgery, which is a huge positive.

Nick Daicos says he will do everything he can to play in the finals. Picture: Michael Klein

“Bone healing is different for everyone, so there’s no certainty around when I’ll return.

“We’re going to do our best to get the swelling down as soon as we can and get moving again, as to a return date … it’s going to be something we’re going to have to play by ear.

“I’ll be doing everything I can to return as soon as possible.”

With just three regular season rounds to go, plus a pre-finals bye, the six-week window for recovery could mean a return in the second or third week of finals, should the Magpies progress that far.

Daicos was heavily tagged against the Hawks. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Daicos revealed he went into the clash against the Hawks, during which he was heavily tagged and racked up just five disposals before his injury, with bone bruising sustained the previous week against Port Adelaide.

“I felt something in my knee a little bit when I went on the ground and it was pretty sore and then in the third quarter on the impact of the Hawthorn player I straight away knew that something wasn’t right,” Daicos said.

“I think I sort of smashed it to smithereens.

“I was hoping it was just a corky, but obviously it was something worse.”

The Magpies will also be without key defender Nathan Murphy for up to three weeks with an ankle injury.