Collingwood Star's Remarkable Injury Revelation
Collingwood vice-captain Nick Daicos has made a stunning admission about his physical condition during the recent AFL finals series, revealing he competed while managing not one, but two significant injuries. The 22-year-old midfield sensation pushed through the pain barrier to help lead his team during the crucial final stages of the season.
Double Injury Setback Revealed
Daicos disclosed to 7NEWS that he had been playing with bone stress in the fifth metatarsal of his right foot throughout the entire finals campaign. In another shocking revelation, the young star suffered a left posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury just days before Collingwood's preliminary final clash against the Brisbane Lions.
The extent of these injuries only became fully apparent through post-season medical scans. Daicos acknowledged that if the PCL injury had occurred during the regular season, it would have likely sidelined him for several months. Fortunately, he avoided surgery and required only extended rest for recovery.
Road to Recovery and Dubai Rehabilitation
Following an enforced layoff period, Daicos has been gradually building back his training loads. He described the recovery process as "a little bit frustrating at times" but acknowledged the forced break was probably "a good thing" for his long-term development.
The Magpies superstar recently returned from Dubai, where he partnered with Collingwood defender Isaac Quaynor to focus on his rehabilitation. Daicos was full of praise for his teammate, noting that Quaynor's exceptional running ability helped push his own training to higher levels.
"We really bond doing a lot of our training together," Daicos said. "He's probably one of the best runners in the AFL and for me to do my running with him, it's always good."
Looking Ahead to 2024 Season
Despite some pundits suggesting Collingwood might be past their premiership window, Daicos remains confident about the team's prospects. The day after their preliminary final loss to Brisbane, he sent a text message to coach Craig McRae expressing his commitment to going "all in" for the 2026 campaign.
As pre-season training officially begins, Daicos will initially complete just over 50 percent of training sessions before taking a break over Christmas. He expressed excitement about the fresh start, saying everyone at the club feels "pretty motivated" for the challenges ahead.
"It's exciting, it's another opportunity, another crack at it, a fresh start so everyone's pretty motivated," Daicos said, looking ahead to the opening round in March.
