Daicos drives Pies to dramatic win over Carlton
daicos powered Collingwood to a five-point win over Carlton at the MCG on Thursday night ET, turning a tense rivalry clash into a final-quarter escape. The Magpies trailed by 18 points at three-quarter time before surging late to win 13. 10 to 12. 11. The finish stayed alive until the last kick, when Carlton’s Talor Byrne missed after the siren to level the scores.
Nick Daicos flips the match late
daicos was the difference in the last quarter, when Collingwood kicked the first five goals of the term to seize control. His final term featured 13 disposals, nine of them contested, plus one goal and two goal assists, a burst that helped him claim the Richard Pratt Medal.
It was a game defined by momentum shifts, but Collingwood’s response after three quarters was the decisive one. Carlton had built a healthy buffer and still had a late chance to force a draw, yet the pressure at the end finally told.
Carlton’s lead slips away again
For Carlton, the loss was another painful example of a season pattern that has kept returning at the worst possible time. The Blues could not close out a strong position, and Collingwood punished every lapse once the final term began.
The margin narrowed only when Carlton mounted a late push, but the Magpies held their nerve. The final sequence summed up the night: a club that looked out of it at three-quarter time found another gear, while the side in front could not finish the job.
What the coaches and club figures are saying
Collingwood coach Craig McRae has been among the strongest voices backing daicos, saying the midfielder is destined to become an all-time great. McRae compared him with Simon Black, saying daicos has the attributes to sit among the game’s best.
McRae also said daicos has already made a major difference to Collingwood since arriving as a father-son selection in November 2021. He added that Daicos is already a leader at the club, with the only question being when that role is formally recognised.
The praise comes with Daicos already established as a three-time All-Australian and a key figure in Collingwood’s 2023 premiership. He also returned from a corked calf in the week before this match and delivered a game-high 31 possessions in Gather Round, then followed it with another match-shaping performance.
That is why daicos keeps drawing the spotlight: not just for highlights, but for how quickly he changes the shape of a game. Collingwood now turns to what comes next with momentum, while Carlton is left to confront another finish that slipped away.
