Father-son draft prospect Nick Daicos was tempted to play for the Gold Coast Suns to avoid the expectation that would come from going to Collingwood, according to SEN's Chief Sports Reporter Sam Edmund.
Daicos, whose father is Collingwood royalty Peter Daicos, has long been touted as a potential number one draft pick after impressing in the NAB League for the Oakleigh Chargers and at Collingwood during the 2021 pre-season.
He recently committed to becoming a Magpie as a father-son selection in this year's National Draft.
However, despite the lure to represent his father’s club and play alongside brother Josh, Edmund understands the Suns made a strong pitch to the 18-year-old.
“He was tempted by a presentation from the Gold Coast before nominating Collingwood,” Edmund told SEN’s Whateley.
“But he had doubts for a time whether he would nominate as a father-son.
“He was weary of the expectation and pressure of following in his father’s footsteps at a big club and for a time the teenager contemplated whether just to back himself in and go to the draft, and that consideration was fuelled in part by a mid-season meeting with Gold coast, in which Daicos was impressed with the fledging club.”
Being a Carey Grammar student, Daicos has ties to the Suns with former school mates Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson departing for the Sunshine State following the 2019 draft.
Despite the pitch and the ideology behind it, it’s not certain how Gold Coast would have been able to secure Daicos.
“It was unclear how the Suns would have got him in the door at the draft given their first pick doesn’t come until after North Melbourne and GWS,” Edmund said.
“Collingwood have promised to match any bid that comes Daicos’ way.
“There were a number of other clubs that did privately discuss whether to put in some really lucrative deals just so he wouldn’t nominate Collingwood.”
If North Melbourne choose to bid on Daicos at pick one and Collingwood match it as promised, he will be the Pies’ first number one draft pick since 1999.