Third on that all-time list is Carlton star Sam Walsh,who won the Rising Star in 2019 with 554 disposals to his credit.
Highlighting just how prolific Daicos has been this year,his disposal tally dwarfs other notable winners of the Rising Star such as Geelong’s Joel Selwood in 2007 (350),West Coast’s Ben Cousins in 1996 (246),Hawthorn’s Sam Mitchell in 2003 (373),Sydney’s Dan Hannebery in 2010 (398),Brisbane Lions’ Daniel Rich in 2009 (390),Sydney’s Callum Mills in 2016 (387) and Richmond’s Brett Deledio in 2005 (336).
Daicos also outshines past performers such as Brisbane’s Nathan Buckley in 1993 (458),Gold Coast’s Jaeger O’Meara in 2013 (476),Essendon’s Dyson Heppell in 2011 (475) and Fremantle’s Paul Hasleby in 2000 (449).
Along with his 26 touches a game,Daicos has also been averaging five intercepts,five score involvements,four marks and four rebound-50s this year.
The teenager is ranked No.1 at Collingwood,and eighth in the league,for uncontested possessions (he averages 17 per game),while he’s also fifth at the Magpies for intercepts and sixth for score involvements.
Another indication of just how dominant Daicos has been this year is that gun Geelong defender Sam De Koning isn’t even being considered for the 2022 Rising Star award,despite how brilliant he has been.
In any other year,De Koning would’ve been a red-hot chance to take out the honour,but unfortunately for him,his breakout season just happened to coincide with one of the great debut years ever seen.
Like Daicos,De Koning has played a crucial role in his team’s push towards a premiership this season.
And while he too is a defender,he’s been playing a much different role at the Cats than Daicos has at the Pies.
Like a baby-faced Dustin Fletcher in 1993,De Koning has been thrown on some of the game’s biggest and best key forwards this year,and has performed with aplomb,nullifying almost every single one of his opponents in what has been a meteoric rise.
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After only managing one game in his first two years at Kardinia Park,De Koning exploded this season and has formed an incredibly potent one-two punch down back with triple All-Australian star Tom Stewart.
By averages,De Koning ranks equal first at Geelong,and equal eighth in the league,for intercept marks,while he’s also first at the Cats for spoils,second for contested marks,second for intercept possessions and fifth for rebound-50s.
It’s been a memorable campaign from the 21-year-old,but it’s one that will almost certainly result in a runner-up finish at the Rising Star award on Wednesday.
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