“I can put that to bed. I don’t think so,” he said. “As I said, Robbie handles all that stuff and I haven’t heard anything, so it’s just business as usual and I’m contracted.
“I keep putting my effort and energy into the Collingwood Football Club.”
The Magpies are considering a move for North Melbourne’s Jy Simpkin, who is searching for more midfield time elsewhere after finishing the 2025 season in a wing role.
“That would be awesome,” Daicos said.
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“As ‘Fly’ [coach Craig McRae] has said many times, we want to keep improving and become a better football club.
“So any time that you can welcome in a star player from an opposition, you’d jump at that opportunity, and I think the club’s doing their best to try and get him across.
“He’d definitely help us, so that would be great.”
Daicos also addressed the controversy surrounding McRae’s comments about Collingwood’s best-and-fairest award, after ruckman Darcy Cameron pipped Daicos to the honour this year.
McRae last week admitted he felt Daicos could have received more votes and said he wanted to “challenge” the process the Magpies have in place.
“Darcy Cameron is one of my good mates, and he had a great year,” Daicos said.
“Often I’m the beneficiary of a lot of the work he does in the ruck.
“There was probably a lot of boys that could have won it, and I’m glad it went Darcy’s way.”
Hawks gun backs Merrett’s right to push for trade
Hawthorn star Tom Barrass insists prospective recruit Zach Merrett is “well within his rights” to agitate for an AFL trade despite his status as a contracted Essendon player.
The Bombers have been adamant they won’t trade their captain and six-time best-and-fairest winner Merrett, who has two years left on his deal.
Hawthorn’s Tom Barrass.Credit: AFL Photos
But that hasn’t stopped the Hawks, led by coach Sam Mitchell, making a strong play for the 30-year-old midfield ball-magnet before Wednesday’s trade deadline.
Merrett is one of an increasing number of high-profile players trying to switch clubs while in contract, with the bold move becoming more commonplace in recent times.
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It has angered and frustrated clubs who believe players have too much power in the market.
Former West Coast defender Barrass was under contract when he requested a move to Hawthorn last year. On Saturday, he backed Merrett’s right to do what is best for him.
“The landscape’s changed a little bit the last few years,” Barrass said. “Free agency and a bunch of rules around trades has sort of incentivised player movement.
“I think we’ll see more and more of it like we do in some of the American sports.
“I think it’s great. It’s just a part of the game now and it needs to be embraced.”
Barrass said Merrett was a quality player he would love to see in Hawthorn’s midfield next season.
“It’s certainly a big move, and it takes a lot of thought, for sure,” Barrass said.
“I’d imagine Zach spent 12 years waking up at 6am every day contributing to the [Essendon] footy club and he’s well within his rights to try and explore his options as a professional.
“Like Sam [Mitchell] has been saying, hopefully that’s at the Hawks. But who knows where it’s going to be?
“I can’t read the trade period; it all seems very uncertain. I wish him all the best and I think it’s very much up to him.”
AAP