Magpies place no expectations on ‘elite’ Daicos ahead of AFL debut

Prized Collingwood father-son recruit Nick Daicos will make his AFL debut in the Magpies’ round-one match against St Kilda at Docklands on Friday.

Former Western Bulldogs onballer Pat Lipinski will also play his first official match for the Magpies after overcoming an ankle injury.

But the Magpies have lost Will Hoskin-Elliott to COVID-19 protocols, while assistant coaches Brendon Bolton and Josh Fraser are also isolating at home.

Magpies coach Craig McRae confirmed the debuts for Daicos and Lipinski on Wednesday.

Daicos, whose father Peter is regarded as a Collingwood great, has enjoyed an outstanding preseason after he was recruited with the number four pick in last November’s national draft.

The 19-year-old younger brother of Josh Daicos, who will be a teammate on Friday, will wear the number 35 guernsey made famous by their father.

“We certainly know what he can bring to the table. He’s had a great preseason,” McRae said.

“He’s an elite decision-maker. He has the ability to see the game that maybe others don’t see and his skill execution is really high.

McRae said any expectations about Daicos as he prepared for his debut were external.

“I didn’t talk about Nick the footballer [at training], I talked about Nick the person and Nick the person is just high character, high work rate, really professional and an engaging young man,” McRae said.

The Magpies recruited Lipinski in last year’s trade period to add midfield depth.

“He was starved of opportunity, he gets an opportunity with us and he hasn’t put a foot wrong,” McRae said.

AAP

Source: AFL NEWS ABC