“My theory on that has always been you are a good player for a reason,you will take them to the ball,so you have to keep working and working through it. Ryan Crowley,Clint Jones,those[kinds of] guys,they didn’t care if they didn’t touch it as long as you didn’t touch it. Then guys like Kane Cornes would try and split and run behind the ball to get a few possessions and get in your head that way.
“The best guys are the ones who,when the ball is around,try and nullify and take you out.
“It’s not like that Hawthorn game was the first time Nick has been tagged – that was the first time he’d been tagged and beaten.”
Scott Pendlebury on Finn Maginness’ effort against Nick Daicos in round 21
“It comes down to work rate and the role,so you stick to that.
“I learnt a lot of it from Swanny[Dane Swan]. You play in the middle and you mightn’t have 35 possessions that game,but you might have 22 really good ones.[Beating them] never happens in the first quarter because they are as fit,as strong,so you rely on your footy IQ,your smarts and hopefully over four quarters you wear them down.
“It’s not like that Hawthorn game was the first time Nick has been tagged – that was the first time he’d been tagged and beaten.
“When Port Adelaide had a go at it,Lachie Jones was beaten by Nick,but Willem Drew did OK on him,but Nick still had 24 and kicked a really good goal in the last quarter that game.
Collingwood’s Josh and Nick Daicos flank their dad - club great,Peter - ahead of a big grand final week.Credit:Luis Ascui
“That’s just Nick’s lot for a long time when he is tagged,just working through it and being smarter. Even[in]the Hawthorn game,until he hurt his knee,Nick went forward took a good mark[so] it might be going forward and kicking two or three goals.
“Nick’s got that ability. If you are down there with him,it’s a whole new ball game because he is so quick,smart,[and has] endurance. If you are a tagger,do you want to be sitting there[with Daicos forward and one-out]?”
Peter Daicos was a brilliant centreman before switching to become a permanent forward.Credit:Getty Images
Peter Daicos thinks the answer,whether the tag comes on grand final day or returns next year when clubs take a leaf from the Hawthorn book on stopping his son,is to take the tagger where he doesn’t want to go.
“At the end of the day,you take them to the goal square and that is where they will panic. That is what I would be doing with a tag,especially one like Maginness. And Nick did go forward and kick a goal[and] then hurt his leg.”
Peter was tagged as a player when he played in the centre early in his Collingwood career,before becoming a permanent forward later on. He understands how to beat the tag,and he also understands his son’s game – both of his sons’ games – better than anyone.
“Beating the tag,at the end of the day,is just getting to as many contests[as possible],[getting] support from your teammates as well,[and] a bit of blocking and shielding,” he said.
Loading
“I don’t know if the Lions will tag him[Nick]. They got there because of their attacking-type style and they are going onto a bigger ground,they are saying it’s going to be 28 degrees and they[the Lions’ midfielders] are big bodies.
“They like the smaller grounds to be able to run over you – they are tractors,they like the physicality.
“The beauty of Nick’s game,and one of his strengths,is he is following up the ball all the time,so you give it and you go again,and go again,and if you have got the ability and stamina,and the tank,that is what you need to do.
“It’s the same now as it was 40 years ago – still the easiest way to get a kick is to run.”