Josh Daicos interview, Nick Daicos, All-Australian seasons, Collingwood Magpies’ finals campaign, premiership hopes, fans, latest news

As Collingwood star Josh Daicos put it himself, “time goes fairly fast.”

5 years in the past on the final Saturday in September, he was wearing a go well with watching on from the sidelines whereas his teammates fell to West Coast by underneath a kick within the 2018 Grand Ultimate.

Solely 19 on the time and in his second AFL season, it got here throughout a troublesome interval in Daicos’ profession as he struggled to interrupt into Nathan Buckley’s facet. Daicos has even admitted publicly there was a time in 2019 when he thought-about quitting soccer altogether.

Watch each match of the 2023 Toyota AFL Finals Sequence earlier than the Grand Ultimate Stay & Advert-Break Free Throughout Play on Kayo Sports activities. Be a part of now and begin streaming immediately >

However quick ahead to current day and there’s arguably no larger title in soccer than Daicos amid he and youthful brother Nick’s ascension to stardom because the minor premiers Pies embark on an enormous finals marketing campaign.

“Time goes fairly fast and I keep in mind that very well. A large day for the membership and that yr usually,” Josh Daicos advised foxfooty.com.au in reflecting on late 2018 when he was out of favour on the Pies.

“Clearly now to be within the place once more taking part in finals and I’ve obtained my spot within the crew, it’s one thing I positively don’t take without any consideration.”

Whereas Collingwood, similar to in 2018, is once more in competition for the flag, Daicos has gone from a comparatively unknown father-son prospect to one of many key driving forces within the membership’s pursuit for the final word success as one of many premier wingmen within the competitors.

That was recognised final week when each he and Nick capped off large seasons – that noticed them each recommit to Collingwood on six-year extensions – by claiming their maiden All-Australian blazers.

The long-lasting Daicos title returning to the highlight has very a lot coincided with the Pies’ rise to the highest of the ladder, with Josh and Nick’s well-known father Peter one of many membership’s all-time greats and a 1990 premiership participant.

There may’nt have been a extra thrilling time for the powerhouse membership usually underneath coach Craig McRae, having set a membership file 106,470 members in 2023.

As such, it’s put an added layer of fame on the Daicos household – in all probability essentially the most talked about in soccer – and one of many nice tales of the season.

And though admitting it has its challenges, Josh embraces he and his household’s celebrity-like standing in a city loopy about soccer.

“That alongside with ‘Fly’ (McRae) virtually revamping the membership and having the ability to actually carry the military together with us – their help has positively ramped up and intensified,” Daicos stated.

“We like it, clearly that’s what you need as gamers, the help of your membership.

“At occasions, it may be a little bit bit powerful, however general we like it. It’s a unique kind of strain however hopefully we will make all of them proud.”

Daicos continued: “You positively can at occasions (really feel like you possibly can’t go in public with out a fan coming as much as you).

“I keep in mind after I was child, I all the time put myself within the footwear of them and I used to be doing the very same factor.

“It was such a buzz getting a photograph with a soccer participant or getting a signature.

“I all the time try to remember that was me as soon as and the way comfortable it made me.”

Josh has in some methods nonetheless managed to go underneath the radar regardless of his epic All-Australian transformation given how shortly Nick has was a real celebrity of the competitors.

That is the place the brothers’ tales and pathways differ.

Solely in his second yr, Nick has produced a fast meteoric rise arguably by no means seen earlier than as one of many Brownlow Medal contenders and declare of being the very best participant within the recreation at simply 20 years of age.

It’s why Nick’s brutal knee harm on the eve of the finals has been such a sizzling matter within the footy world, with the son of a gun to overlook Thursday evening’s Qualifying Ultimate in opposition to Melbourne with an eye fixed in the direction of returning subsequent week, if required, or the week after.

“I attempt to not ask him an excessive amount of concerning the harm with everybody asking him – the media, coaches, even family and friends,” Josh famous.

“He appears like he’s going very well, clearly a very powerful harm for him and he’s been itching to get again.

“However he’s doing all the things he can in rehab and it’s actually thrilling for him the development he’s made.”

Being the much less talked about Daicos “sits completely effective” with Josh, additionally suggesting the added curiosity in his brother has at occasions gone excessive.

“Nick deserves all that spotlight, to be doing what he’s doing at 20,” Josh stated.

“He in all probability virtually would’ve received the Brownlow if he didn‘t get injured. What he’s doing, I don’t assume we’ve seen earlier than.

“I really feel for him at occasions with the eye he will get, the hype and the way in which the media all the time use his title and want to speak about him.

“He’s tremendous humble although so I’m tremendous pleased with him.

“We simply love getting higher, individually and as a crew.”

It made final week’s All-Australian presentation an additional particular evening for the brothers as they stood on stage collectively.

Josh’s Instagram caption in saluting their achievement summed it up completely, saying: “All these hours within the yard paid off.”

Additional increasing on what it meant to be recognised with the sport’s elite alongside Nick, Josh described it as a surreal second.

“You do (need to pinch your self) as a result of it’s one thing you couldn’t have dreamt about in your wildest goals,” he stated.

“All of the observe within the yard and native parks and all the time carrying a soccer round.

“It’s fairly loopy to assume now what we’ve been capable of obtain, and who is aware of what in a month we will obtain.

“It was a tremendous evening and nice to have a good time, however we all know the larger image and switched up our focus fairly fast to what’s taking place this subsequent month.”

Forward of a defining September for his or her membership, 1000’s of Collingwood followers flocked to coaching over the past week to help Craig McRae and firm – and no supporter base has a much bigger presence than the Magpie military.

Regardless of the crew’s shaky kind on the eve of the finals – even prompting some to query Collingwood’s flag credentials – an entire new season begins when the Pies and Demons face off in entrance of a crowd of as much as 95,000 on the MCG on Thursday evening, with a spot within the preliminary closing on the road.

Having been so ingrained within the Magpies tradition and fandem his complete life, Josh stated it was “tremendous particular” to now be on the forefront of a finals marketing campaign.

“I keep in mind going to the soccer and the excitement of watching the Pies play again within the day,” he stated.

“To assume that now loads of us gamers are in that place, it’s so thrilling.

“We do all the things we will to make them comfortable and hopefully give them pleasure and leisure.

“We all know, with loads of them, that’s what will get them via their week or could make or break their week.

“It’s so good to see them flip up, they all the time prove in big numbers. I’m certain this finals collection received’t be any completely different.”

Requested what it could be to grow to be a premiership participant for Collingwood, Josh stated: “All the things. It’s one thing you dream about as a child.

“For dad to have the ability to do it in 1990, I all the time hear what it meant to him and the bond it creates as a membership along with your teammates, employees and coaches.

“You may solely dream of it, however we’ve obtained the chance this subsequent month to essentially grasp that and dream massive.”

As for Daicos Snr’s recommendation for his two sons forward of the finals, the ‘Macedonian Marvel’ merely urged them to remain within the second.

“(Dad’s message was) Simply to tell us how necessary they’re by way of they don’t come round yearly,” Josh stated.

“You’re not all the time in the identical place you had been final yr and it will possibly change fairly fast for good or dangerous.

“Benefit from it and have enjoyable – he retains it fairly easy. Enjoying exhausting and doing all the things you possibly can and holding your head excessive by the tip of it.”