Tasmania Devils Director's 'Coincidental' Meeting with Daicos Family Sparks AFL Frenzy
A seemingly casual meeting between a Tasmania Devils board director and the Daicos family has sent shockwaves through the AFL community, particularly unnerving Collingwood supporters far and wide. During the Magpies' early-season bye week, Collingwood stars Nick and Josh Daicos, accompanied by their father Peter, were photographed in Tasmania with Devils director Roger Curtis on Saturday.
Speculation Mounts Over Recruitment Strategy
The Daicoses were in Tasmania for a function on Friday night, but the image with Curtis—a lifelong Collingwood fan before joining the Devils—has raised eyebrows and sparked intense speculation. "I'm told this may have just been a coincidental meeting, they were just on their way to their next function," Mitch Cleary commented on Sunday Footy Feast. "But I just wonder whether he's (Curtis) in the ear of the Daicos duo. Nick is signed until 2029, Josh until 2030. If they are to lure either of those guys, they're going to have to stump up when it comes to draft picks. But they do have the money to do it."
Discussions around the Devils' recruitment plans have heavily focused on Nick Daicos, widely regarded as having the most valuable signature in the AFL. At just 25 years old when Tasmania enters the competition in 2028, he represents a prime target. The Devils are expected to receive significant concessions to aid their entry, including:
- A bounty of draft picks
- Extra salary cap space for sign-on bonuses
This could theoretically allow the Devils to offer Daicos a monumental contract, potentially worth $2 million per season plus a $1 million sign-on bonus or more—a package that no other club, including Collingwood, could match.
Devils CEO Downplays the Encounter
Devils CEO Brendon Gale has faced repeated questions about Daicos and addressed the photo incident, attempting to quell the growing rumors. "My phone blew up yesterday morning and I thought, 'What's happened?'" he told Sunday Footy Feast. "That's Roger Curtis, he's on our board, and his house is about three down the road from that coffee shop. He coincidentally ran into the Daicoses, and he happens to be a mad Collingwood fan. I don't quite know why they're here, but let me just say this: why wouldn't they be here? This is an incredible place, it's 25 degrees, there's not a cloud in the sky, there's golf, there's fishing, there's food, wine—it's an incredible place. Why wouldn't they be here?"
Despite Gale's reassurances, the encounter continues to fuel debate among fans and analysts, highlighting the high stakes involved in AFL recruitment and the intense scrutiny surrounding potential player movements.
