AFL
7 hours ago
‘Touched by God’: When Blues great was captivated by Magpies legend
By Andrew Slevison
Carlton legend Ang Christou was once so enamoured with and captivated by Collingwood that he asked to play on Peter Daicos.
Despite developing into a premiership player with the Blues, Christou loved the Magpies prior to being picked up by the arch rivals in 1990.
His good mate Anthony Koutoufides, who also happened to be a Magpies fan as a kid, recalled a match very early in his career where Ang asked teammate Stephen Silvagni if he could match up on Daicos, the Macedonian Marvel.
‘SOS’ was not forthcoming in a game the Pies would win by 16 points in front of more than 77,000 fans at Waverley Park.
“I was a mad Collingwood supporter growing up, Ang and I,” Koutoufides said on SEN’s Sportsday.
“I just remember Ang hoping that (Blues coach) David Parkin would play him on Peter Daicos in 1992. So when he saw the lineup it was Stephen Silvagni on Daicos. Ang approached SOS and said, ‘SOS, do you mind if I play on him?’, and SOS just looked at Ang and said, ‘Mate, you are kidding yourself, get out of here’.
“Ang said, ‘Even if I just stand next to him for a minute, SOS, I’ll be happy’. SOS just said, ‘Don’t even talk to me, Ang, get away’.”
However, Christou somewhat got his wish when he did make contact with the legendary Magpie who was in the second last season of a sparkling career.
“‘Daics’ touched him at one time and I remember him (Christou) going, ‘Mate, I’ve been touched by God’,” Kouta laughed.
“I said, ‘Ang, we’re trying to win a game here and you’re worried about Daics touching ya’.”
Kouta absolutely loved being part of Blues v Pies games which continues to be one of footy’s most heated rivalries.
“That rivalry was huge back then. Every day in the newspaper it was Carlton and Collingwood,” he said further.
“I know growing up being a Collingwood supporter that Carlton always had the edge on Collingwood. They were the big games that all your so-called friends and relatives come out of the woodwork and asked for tickets.
“They were huge games back then and I loved them because there was no doubt it would be minimum 70,000 or 80,000 and close to 90,000 some games when both teams were up and going.
“There’s no better feeling than running out on the MCG with a packed crowd coming up against the arch enemy.
“You respect Collingwood as well for what they’ve done. Eddie McGuire did a magnificent job with Collingwood when they looked like they were down in the dumps.
“He made them an incredible powerhouse club.”
Collingwood’s best player right now is Nick Daicos who strangely enough, despite his strong Magpie ties, was a Blues fan for part of his childhood.
If Nick was off the table, and Kouta could recruit one current Magpie to play for the Blues, who would it be?
“I probably would go Josh,” he said, keeping it in the family.
“But I think Nick is the best player in the competition in my opinion. His ball use is so damaging.
“He does create something different, he actually turns games around and they’re very rare to come across.
“Nick is a wonderful player, but Josh too. We can’t underestimate Josh. His career started a little slow for whatever reason but all of a sudden he’s gone to another level.
“His skill level as well, he and Nick are the two standouts. When you have a dad like Peter who just played with that ball like it was a basketball.
“These guys have certainly learnt a lot from their dad and become quality and skilled players.
“Peter said they’d kick socks around the house just to get the feel of the ball.”
The Carlton v Collingwood rivalry continues at the MCG tonight to kick off Round 6.
Blues Radio is back for the blockbuster clash. Join Andy Maher, Sam Edmund, Anthony Koutoufides and Ang Christou on SEN from 7pm AEST.
