AFL 2022: Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury backs Nick Daicos to shine

There’s a lot of hype about Collingwood son-of-a-gin Nick Daicos and only one way to find out if he can live up to it.

Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury doesn’t want to think about the end of his career but he’s excited at the thought of another starting, declaring top draft pick Nick Daicos could be thrown “into the fire” in round 1.

Daicos was the Magpies’ first pick in last year’s draft, taken at number four as a father-son selection, and the 18-year-old has impressed the skipper through a pre-season in which all the players had to adapt to the new playing style of first-year coach Craig McRae.

Pendlebury, 34, who is suiting up for his 17th AFL season, said there was only way to know whether Daicos was ready to make his mark.

“He’s come in, he’s fitted in really well, he’s picked up the system we wanted to play,” he said of Daicos on Wednesday.

“He’s a willing learner, all those types of things.

“You never know if you are ready for AFL, but there’s one way to find out and that’s throw them into the fire and see how they go.

“He’ll be ready when his name gets called and hopefully it’s round 1.”

Nick Daicos (left) has impressed Scott Pendlebury. Picture: Mike Owen/Getty Images

Pendlebury will lead the club for a ninth straight year and, when asked if it could be his last season as skipper, was upfront about his future.

“It could be my last year as a player, I don‘t know, but I’m not really thinking about that,” Pendlebury said.

“I‘m thinking about having a good pre-season, which I’ve had, and getting the boys ready for the season.”

Pendlebury will play a new role in 2022, being sent down back to allow the likes of Jack Crisp and Brayden Maynard more midfield time.

The captain conceded it had been a learning curve for him.

“I’ll be playing a bit more back this year and I think Fly (McRae) has already put that across,” Pendlebury said.

“With guys like Crispy, Brayden Maynard and Nicky Daicos getting more time in the midfield, I’ll go to halfback a bit more.

“It’s hard having to defend someone, I haven’t had to do that too many times.

“I really enjoy playing behind the ball and it’s something I’ve actually wanted to do for a long period of time.”

Our 2022 leadership has been confirmed.

The announcement from Fly:

— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) February 15, 2022

The Magpies have cut back their leadership group, with Pendlebury joined by vice-captains Taylor Adams, Darcy Moore and Jeremy Howe.

It will be Moore‘s first year as a vice-captain, with the star defender out of contract at season’s end.

Pendlebury said the players were “ready to go” a month out from a round 1 showdown with St Kilda, looking to rebound after finishing in a record-low 17th position last year and club legend Nathan Buckley departing as coach mid-season.

“I feel like we are getting a really good handle on how the coaches want us to play,” he said.

“We are in a good spot, we have a lot of guys fit and healthy and ready to go.”

Originally published as AFL 2022: Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury backs Nick Daicos to shine