Richmond Tigers vs Collingwood Magpies: The best of Nick Daicos keeps Magpies on top in 2025

18 hours ago 5

Plenty of energy is used analysing the game, each team’s respective systems and their list profile.

But when Collingwood star Nick Daicos is in the mood he was on Sunday, all such discussion becomes superfluous.

He not only separated the two teams. He was on a different plane to the other 45 players who took the ground.

Daicos’s third goal kicked in the third quarter signalled the end of a strong Richmond resistance. He already had 31 touches, a dozen score involvements and the third goal meant he had kicked a major in each quarter.

He finished the match with 42 disposals, falling just one short of his career-best 43 disposals. He also recorded 884 metres gained.

The statistics didn’t tell even part of the tale of his dominance, however. He was as clean as a new oven and always found a teammate with his disposal.

Without his mentor Scott Pendlebury, who was a late withdrawal he became the heart settler for Magpie fans when the Tigers moved within eight points early in the second half.

Rotating off halfback with his brother Josh, he arched his back, ran this way and that, and kicked left and right to open up avenues to goal and eventually the Magpies took control.

They kicked five unanswered goals to reassert their dominance in the third quarter over the Tigers who are the best of the non-contenders at the moment.

Despite losing Tim Taranto to a calf injury before the match, they still had significant experienced sprinkled through the line-up.

Noah Balta’s return meant they had seven premiership players in the team, plus the experienced Jacob Hopper and Jack Ross, to complement the exciting glimpses Taj Hotton, Steely Green and Tyler Sonsie provided.

All three were on their game, although Green was lucky to receive a free kick that led to a goal when he flew over Harry Perryman in an attempt to mark and was somehow awarded a free because the umpire adjudicated that Perryman had blocked him. It was immaterial to the result but an unusual decision.

Nick Vlastuin and Nathan Broad have been excellent this season but Vlastuin was better than that on Sunday with his exceptional intercept game on display.

Maurice Rioli’s two chase down tackles were also worth the price of admission. He caught Steele Sidebottom and Tom Mitchell – admittedly not footballers boasting Usain Bolt-like traits – like he was a hyena stalking tame impalas.

But there were good signs for the Magpies with Tim Membrey their best forward, Isaac Quaynor continuing his great form and importantly Dan Houston working his way into the game during the third quarter culminating in a goal in the final quarter.

Tom Mitchell also won 25 touches in the middle and continues to challenge Ned Long for that in-and-under position although with Jordan De Goey, Pendlebury, Bobby Hill, Billy Frampton and Jemery Howe still to return half a dozen players are under pressure to keep their spot.

The Magpies remain on top of the ladder with a massive match against the Brisbane Lions at the MCG next week while the Tigers continue to win respect for their commitment to the task.