Collingwood youngster Nick Daicos had his best game at senior level in Saturday’s five-point win over Adelaide.
The 19-year-old has already been hailed as a future star of the competition with multiple best-afield performances in his first year, but Saturday’s outing of three goals and 40 disposals at 82 per cent efficiency was his best yet.
Becoming the youngest player in AFL/VFL history to achieve a 40 disposal/three-goal performance, Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes called out the Crows and coach Matthew Nicks for allowing the young star to operate with such freedom.
“He (Daicos) made them look silly,” Cornes said on AFL.com.au’s The Round So Far.
“He made Matthew Nicks look silly, he’s not sore tomorrow (Sunday) I guarantee you because there was not one Adelaide player that went anywhere near him.
“There is a missed tackle from (Mitchell) Hinge, he (Daicos) runs around (Sam) Berry to lace out another player inside 50.
“Look at him, hailing taxis on the outside. If you want to give a player that’s as good of a decision maker as him time and space, then you’re going to get 40 (touches) and three (goals) kicked on you from a half-back that hasn’t played 20 games yet.
“For Matthew Nicks to allow him this much time and space, it was like a handball drill in pre-season in February, to finish.
“You lose the game by a kick and a first-year player has 40 and three, that’s on the coach.”
Given that Daicos’ season has been hailed by many as the best first-year of any player in the modern era, Cornes pondered when the youngster will get tagged by a run-with player.
“When is someone going to tag him?,” Cornes asked.
“It has to be this week, we saw how John Longmire does with Bailey Dale, Jack Sinclair and players like that.
“If you have the skill level and decision making like this, you’re going to win Brownlows if you’re allowed to do this.
“I’m waiting for the first team to go after him, congratulations to him on his good form, but you’d be really disappointed if you were Matthew Nicks watching that.”
The Rising Star favourite will get his next chance to impress as Collingwood chases its ninth straight win when they face Essendon at the MCG next Sunday.