Josh Daicos, the Brownlow Medal contender, is sincerely hopeful that his brother Nick will be prepared to compete in the oncoming preliminary final after undergoing a challenging period of solitary training. Recovering from a hairline fracture in his knee, Nick was put through another lone running session on Wednesday.
Despite the unnerving solitude, Nick has been managing well, according to Josh Daicos. Far from growing weary of the additional sessions, Nick is looking forward to making a comeback. He appreciates his health and his place in the group more than ever.
“Nick has done everything within his power to get ready to play. We consequently hope to see him in action next week,” Josh iterated. “This period has been grueling for him as he loves being a part of the vibrant group. However, the sunny Melbourne weather has been supportive, allowing him to rise early and practice his running. He’s been performing admirably.”
Detailing about the team’s state, Daicos revealed that other top performers like Nick and team captain Darcy Moore, who is nursing a wrist tendon issue, stand to gain should the Magpies move into the final round. The possibility of an extra day’s rest after the Friday night preliminary final is a comforting thought. Josh commended Darcy’s performance, which remained unaffected despite his persisting injury.
The Collingwood players, Josh mentioned, will keep a close eye on the semi-finals this week. A few of them will even attend the Demons-Blues face-off at the MCG on Friday night before tuning in to either Port Adelaide or GWS on TV to scrutinize the potential competitors.
Reflecting on his personal performance, Daicos revealed that he remained unperturbed despite recording his lowest season’s possession count in the qualifying finals, with merely 14 disposals and one tackle on the wing. “The fun and team spirit overshadowed the lack of individual impact,” he affirmed.
Lastly, he welcomed the tribunal’s decision to absolve Brayden Maynard of any wrongdoing for the collision that left Angus Brayshaw unconscious temporarily. He expressed the team’s relief and maintained that Brayden has always been a sportive player. Wrapping up his interaction, he conveyed the team’s concern for Angus and wished him a swift recovery.
