Collingwood young superstar Nick Daicos has claimed the 2023 AFL Coaches Association Best Young Player Award.
The Magpies’ midfield maestro polled 129 votes, ahead of Essendon’s Nick Martin (50 votes) and Port Adelaide’s Jason Horne Francis (34 votes).
Daicos, drafted to Collingwood as a father-son pick as the son of legendary Magpie Peter, made his AFL debut in Round 1 of the 2022 AFL season and has enjoyed back-to-back phenomenal seasons to begin his career.
Daicos’ performances throughout 2022 were considered by expert football pundits as some of the best they had seen from a first year player, with those efforts seeing him take home the 2022 Rising Star Award.
The 2023 season kicked off where 2022 ended and Daicos continued to deliver multiple best on ground performances, polling 99 votes in the 2023 AFL Coaches Association Champion Player Award and becoming a Brownlow Medal favourite before an injury in Round 21 ruled him out for the remainder of the Home and Away season.
Craig McRae praised his young star in receiving this recognition from the coaches.
“The whole Club is very proud of all our emerging players including Nick who has continued to drive incredible standards within our four walls,” said McRae.
“It is great to see him recognised through this award and we look forward to continuing to support his development as a footballer and a person.”
AFL Coaches Association CEO Alistair Nicholson congratulated Daicos on his first two seasons in the AFL which has saw him awarded the 2023 AFL Coaches Association Best Young Player.
“What an unbelievably impressive first two seasons for Nick. Polling 129 votes to take out the Best Young Player and almost winning the 2023 AFL Coaches Association Champion Player in his second season,” said Nicholson.
“Nick should be proud of himself, as should the Collingwood coaching group for the role they play. What a career ahead we will have the privilege of watching.”
The AFL Coaches Association Best Young Player Award is presented in recognition of the player based on performances in his first two seasons of AFL Football and is determined by the weekly votes of the AFL coaches.
Previous winners: AFLCA BEST YOUNG PLAYER AWARD
