Collingwood legend Peter Daicos reportedly didn’t take kindly to a sledge in son Nick’s direction as this year’s Brownlow Medal drama refuses to go away.
For the third year running, Nick Daicos entered the 2025 Brownlow Medal night as a hot favourite, only to leave on the podium and with no honour around his neck.
Lachie Neale and Patrick Cripps took out the medal in 2023 and 2024 respectively, with Gold Coast’s Matt Rowell a surprise winner late last month.
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Collingwood coach Craig McRae attempted to poke some fun at the situation at the club’s awards night on Saturday, saying on stage: “Congratulations to Nick Daicos, who is now a three-time All-Australian at the age of 22.
“He came runner-up in the Brownlow Medal again. Maybe a few more 16-disposal games might get you there next year.
“That’s cheeky Fly coming out.”
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That was a reference to some of the modest statistical games Rowell had that still resulted in a glut of Brownlow votes.
McRae was then left with egg on his face when Daicos also failed to win his own club best and fairest count, finishing second behind ruckman Darcy Cameron, leading to a strong response from the footy world.
The Suns tweeted an image of McRae and the Collingwood vote count with the caption: “This aged soooo well.”
Veteran caller Stephen Quartermain tweeted: “A bit disrespectful and disingenuous given the fact he didn’t even win his B&F … jog on.”
It has now emerged that Nick’s famous dad Peter reportedly didn’t take kindly to McRae’s ribbing on Saturday night.
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Reporter Tom Morris was at the function at Crown Palladium and said Peter Daicos “stormed out” shortly after McRae’s attempted humour at his son’s expense.
“I was really interested being at the Collingwood best and fairest listening to Craig McRae’s speech,” Morris said on AFL Trade Radio. “I thought by and large he spoke well.
“Collingwood know how to do a best and fairest, it was great to get the invite.
“Craig McRae had a little jab at some of the Brownlow votes.”
Morris added Daicos left shortly after McRae’s speech and the reporter hasn’t had any luck trying to contact him since.
“I tried to call him Saturday, I tried to call him Sunday, I’ve texted him this morning. No response, which is fine, that’s totally up to him,” Morris continued.
“But he stormed out at about that time. He took his tie off and he left the function.
“Was it that comment? Was it something else that happened? Did he find out that Nick Daicos wasn’t going to win or was he not feeling well? I don’t know.
“But he stormed out. He took his tie off and he went home.”
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Later, on Fox Footy’s Trading Day, Herald Sun journalists Jon Ralph and Glenn McFarlane briefly discussed the circumstances around McRae’s “quirky” speech.
Ralph began: “Speaking of strange occurrences, with a walkout, there was a weird speech from the coach, what happened there?”
McFarlane replied: “It was the weekend for it, wasn’t it? Quirky speech from Craig McRae, thanking everyone and talking about all the players that were having babies … but the weird one was Nick Daicos and talking about the Brownlow Medal and maybe he would win a Brownlow Medal if he (had) more 16-disposal games.”
Ralph: “Surely the coach knew that — why would you say that when you know that by the end of the night, he’s going to get rolled?”
Dual All-Australian Leigh Montagna chimed in: “That’s what I thought — the coach knows who won the best and fairest.”
McFarlane: “It was an unusual night … it was a great night, but a little bit unusual.”
Ralph: “And Peter Daicos rides his sons’ highs and lows, so, he’d be frustrated that he (came) second in the Brownlow, missed the premiership as well, and now second in the best and fairest.”