Nasiah better? “Let’s put some respect” on Nick Daicos

Nick Daicos and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera simply cannot be compared... yet.

That is the vehement opinion of Kane Cornes who questioned some media commentary surrounding the Collingwood gun and emerging St Kilda star on the weekend.

Wanganeen-Milera helped himself to four goals and 28 disposals in his side’s 43-point AAMI Community Series win over Essendon in Ballarat on Saturday.

On Fox Footy’s coverage, Gerard Healy said: “I tell you what, if this is his practice match form I’m paying to see his real stuff.”

Ken Hinkley replied: “I’m coming with you, don’t worry. I’m on the plane.”

Healy then asked: “Has he gone past Nick Daicos?”

Hinkley answered: “Yeah I think so because of this - four goals - I think that’s what he’s gone past.”

Cornes could not quite believe that Wanganeen-Milera is being assessed as a better player than Magpies jet Daicos.

He suggested it was somewhat disrespectful given what Daicos has achieved - a premiership, three All-Australians, a Copeland Trophy and countless other individual awards - by the age of 23.

“The question was has Nasiah gone past Nick Daicos? And Ken said yes without hesitation because he went forward and kicked four goals,” Cornes said on SEN’s Fireball.

“I vehemently disagree. We cannot even have this conversation for (at least) 12 months.

“Let’s put some respect on Nick Daicos. I love everyone who has a strong opinion and we can debate it.

“But Nick has been doing this since day one with a couple of people hanging off him most weeks. The most targeted player in the league in an era where no opposition player is ever targeted.

“Nasiah runs around with no one on him. I am absolutely amazed.

“I don’t know when (he will be tagged) - and it probably won’t start in Opening Round because Collingwood don’t tag anyone - but it’s going to come at some point.

“I want to see how Nasiah copes with that, he hasn’t been tagged yet, he was allowed to roam freely off half-back and the move to the midfield was successful, and it feels like the move forward is going to give him strings to his bow where he’s going to be hard to tag. There’s no doubt about it.

“He’s yet to have that. Nick has had that for the last three years. They’re the same age and if you look at every key metric Nick Daicos is a better player.

“To think you would overreact after a pre-season game and a great All-Australian and best and fairest season. But let’s see him do it in September, let’s see him do it on Grand Final day, let’s see him do it when he’s targeted by the opposition.

“These are all the things Nick has done. So we’re miles away from even having that discussion.”

Daicos and the Pies kick off their 2026 campaign against Nasiah and the Saints at the MCG this Sunday night.