- Collingwood Coach Opens Up on Nick Daicos Tagging Strategy and Player Development
Collingwood head coach Craig McRae has shed light on how the club is handling the growing scrutiny around superstar Nick Daicos, particularly in response to the heavy tagging tactics he has faced in recent AFL matches. Notably, McRae addressed the situations involving Ed Langdon and Marcus Windhager, who were both tasked with restricting Daicos’ influence in recent games. While Langdon had some success keeping Daicos quiet on King’s Birthday, Windhager wasn’t as fortunate, with Daicos bouncing back strongly to register 30 disposals and a goal.
In the lead-up to their most recent fixture, McRae reached out to AFL officials to better understand how these defensive strategies are viewed within the game’s rules. He shared that his conversation with Dan Richardson, the AFL’s Coaching Engagement Manager, helped frame the club’s understanding of the issue. McRae emphasized that his primary concern was player welfare, especially when it comes to supporting the club’s emerging talents like Daicos. He also revealed that he engaged directly with match officials at training to ensure there’s mutual awareness about fair play and protection for key players.
Drawing from his own playing days, McRae made an interesting comparison between Daicos and his former Brisbane teammate Simon Black. He noted that Black was one of the most effective midfielders at overcoming tags, and that he had passed on similar strategies to help Daicos handle the increasing pressure. With 84 games under his belt, Daicos has frequently found himself shadowed by opposition stoppers, but McRae believes that learning to navigate such tactics is an essential step in the evolution of any elite player. He pointed to other stars like Scott Pendlebury and Marcus Bontempelli who also faced similar challenges early in their careers.
McRae stressed that while tagging is a reality for top-tier players, Daicos’ endurance and ability to cover ground make him uniquely difficult to contain. He praised the team’s efforts in providing better structural support for Daicos on the field and said the young midfielder is maturing through every experience. According to the coach, dealing with this level of attention is now part of Daicos’ football journey, and the coaching staff is fully committed to guiding him through it.
Looking ahead to Round 16, the Magpies will have to contend with a few absences. Brayden Maynard remains sidelined for another week, while Billy Frampton and Beau McCreery have been ruled out due to calf and hamstring injuries, respectively. Stepping up in their place, Charlie Dean will slot in for Frampton, and fans can look forward to the debut of draftee Charlie West, who is set to play his first senior game against West Coast. With the team continuing to adapt both on and off the field, Collingwood is working to maintain its competitive edge through a blend of resilience, talent development, and smart leadership.
