Nick Daicos wins first Copeland Trophy, joining dad Peter and brother Josh as winners
Nick Daicos wrote another chapter into his family’s Collingwood legacy when he won his first Copeland Trophy. He speaks to GLENN MCFARLANE about his US plans, the Magpies’ recruiting and more.
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Tearaway Copeland Trophy winner Nick Daicos is preparing to head to the United States to take in some sport and ramp up his fitness base, saying he and his teammates are hungrier than ever to elevate Collingwood back into the premiership frame next season.
The Daicos family created VFL-AFL history on Friday night when they became the first father and two sons to win VFL/AFL best and fairests, with Nick joining his father Peter (1982 and 1988) and his brother Josh (2023) as winners of the E.W. Copeland Trophy.
Nick, 21, said he was “super grateful” to win his first Collingwood best and fairest, but stressed his thoughts were fixed on another premiership medal far more than individual laurels.
“We just weren’t able to win enough games to qualify for the finals (this year), but the drive is there … the fire is in the belly,” Daicos told the Sunday Herald Sun at the gala Copeland count at Crown Palladium.
“I am sure if you spent 10 minutes with the boys now, you would be able to tell that pretty quickly.
“There is a real urgency and a motivation between the players and the coaching staff … we want to get back there featuring (in a grand final) this time next year.”
The Brownlow Medal runner-up said the acquisition of free agent Harry Perryman, who could play a midfield role that might free up him a little, and the possibility of attracting other players in trades added to a list profile that can boost the club’s chances of a swift rebound.
The Magpies are also trying to pull off an unlikely trade for Port Adelaide’s Dan Houston by prising pick 13 out of Gold Coast as part of a deal that would send John Noble to the Suns.
“It’s super exciting,” he said of the Pies’ list profile.
“The club is in a really good position going forward. Our list right now is in that (flag) window, and we have added to it with Harry and hopefully a couple of other players.
“We’ve got so many exciting players. We have a lot to look forward to.”
Daicos said the Magpies’ collective drive to get back to September next year had seen them already training in small groups, well ahead of the official start of pre-season training.
He was at the club on the morning of the Copeland Trophy and will do plenty of training when he heads overseas soon.
“We’re pretty quickly back into it,” he said. “I’m heading overseas to do a bit of training in America, which I am really keen for, and to also see some sport over there,” he said.
“We’ve been training in little groups at the club. We are all super motivated.”
He praised his teammates, as well as the club’s coaching and medical teams, for helping him during his award-winning season.
He also reserved plenty of thanks for his family, including father Peter, who he described as “the smartest footy brain I’ve ever come across.”
Originally published as Nick Daicos wins first Copeland Trophy, joining dad Peter and brother Josh as winners
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