Nick Daicos Is The Most Valuable Asset In The AFL

Nick Daicos is the most valuable asset in the AFL.

Collingwood has been monitoring Daicos effectively since he was out of the womb, and as a youngster, he’d join the club’s academy named after his legendary father, Peter.

The program is designed to let potential Collingwood father-sons train at the club to develop them during their junior years.

The Magpies knew they had something special with Daicos.

He played for them in the Next Generation Academy and then their VFL team. Daicos also trained with the Magpies prior to being drafted, he was good enough to play AFL football last year.

But when he was taken as a father-son selection with the fourth pick in the 2021 AFL Draft, newly appointed coach Craig McRae made it clear that Collingwood’s new favourite Daicos would have to earn his spot.

Earn it he did.

Now with Collingwood securing a top-four spot and poised to make a run at their 16th VFL/AFL premiership, Daicos has been the spark that Collingwood desperately needed.

Daicos hasn’t missed a game in 2022. His elite decision-making, poise and elusiveness led to him winning the NAB Rising Star award in a landslide.

He averaged 26 disposals, four marks and four rebound 50s a game off half-back. His attacking style and elite ball use has rejuvenated Collingwood from a low-scoring and safe team to the most watchable side in the AFL.

Daicos was unlucky not to be selected in the All-Australian team, let alone the squad of 44, and is already one of the best running defenders in the game, yet he comes cheap.

Every first-round pick has a base salary of $105,000 plus $4,000 for every game played. They will also be deserving of a $12,000 bonus if they hit a certain games threshold, which Daicos has done. Daicos played all 22 games, meaning he is being paid around $205,000 for the year. It is around $165,000 below the average AFL player wage. The AFL salary cap is $13.5 million so he takes up just 1.5% of the salary cap. If Daicos wasn’t locked into the rookie deal he would command towards $700,000 a season. That near $500,000 discount is a seismic advantage for the Magpies.

Daicos has been essential to Collingwood’s fairy tale season, yet his contract is the equivalent to a player that is in and out of an AFL side which has given Collingwood’s front office the freedom to sign Darcy Moore and others.

In April, Collingwood locked Moore away to a monster six-year contract extension.

Moore helped keep Carlton goalless in the final quarter of their dramatic Round 22 victory, allowing his side to retain a position in the top four. He also charged off half-back and found youngster Trent Bianco, who subsequently floated the ball into the lap of Jamie Elliot for the after-the-siren match-winner against Essendon in Round 19.

All-Australian heart and soul defender Brayden Maynard also committed his long-term future to Collingwood signing through until the end of 2025.

The Magpies appear certain to be major players in the upcoming trade period having set their sights on Brisbane free agent Dan McStay and Giants small forward Bobby Hill. They can thank Daicos for the extra cash in the salary cap.

Daicos is a genuine star and will be crucial to Collingwood’s premiership push, but he’s paid like a fringe player.

The Magpies’ season has been defined by stealing wins from the clutches of defeat, but those robberies were only made possible by one thing - Daicos’ incredibly valuable rookie contract.

In the NFL, having a star quarterback still on their rookie contract can be one of the most valuable things in roster building.

That theme may have crept into the AFL and is playing out at Collingwood.