Judd v Daicos: Which superstar had a better 100 games?

Nick Daicos’ first 100 AFL games have been as good as any.

A superstar of the modern game, Daicos claimed the Rising Star award in 2022 before winning a premiership with Collingwood in 2023, a club best and fairest in 2024, and an AFLPA MVP award in 2025 alongside three All-Australian blazers and three podium Brownlow finishes.

Accumulating one of the best CVs across any player’s opening 100 career games, it’s hard to compare Daicos with any of our game’s greats.

That said, Hawthorn legend Luke Hodge couldn’t help but ask the question; “Who has had the first 100 games – is it Chris Judd, or is it Nick Daicos?”

Judd's first 100 games with the West Coast Eagles were spectacular, highlighted by his outstanding 2004 season. Winning a club best and fairest, earning a debut All-Australian call-up and his first of two Brownlow Medals, Judd’s career was off to a flying start, before leading the Eagles to a premiership and claiming the Norm Smith Medal in 2005.

But which of the two players enjoyed a better first 100?

“I was always leaning towards ‘Juddy’,” Hodge told SEN Whateley.

“Back then, it wasn’t about touches. If you had 20 touches and kicked a couple of goals as a young kid, it was like a 30 or 35 (disposal game) now.

“So, I was always kind of leaning towards ‘Juddy’ because I saw it first-hand, and what a freak the guy was.

“I’ve kind of leant a little bit back the other way now.”

Daicos' 100th game against Carlton on Thursday was a special performance, racking up 39 disposals, nine score involvements, eight clearances and a goal, but it was his fourth-quarter efforts that won his side the game.

In the final exchange, Daicos mounted 13 disposals, five score involvements, four clearances and a goal, pulling the Pies back from 18 points down to win by five points.

It was that term that caught the eye of Hodge.

“You look at what (Daicos) has been able to do over those games, and him being able to flip that switch… that last quarter – let’s be honest, it was an ugly game of football,” he said.

“In that third quarter, I actually called during the commentary, was it a flat footy? The number of turnovers – I was sitting there going, this is hard to watch. We need something.

“I tell you what, this young man developed, and he delivered on the big stage. In the last quarter, getting clearances out, and even the mindset of him to get the clearance, push forward, give it off to (Darcy) Cameron who decided not to give it back to the best player on the field and decided to have a shot from 45.

“That’s okay, we will let him pass for that. Nick didn’t crack it, he just worked again, and all of a sudden, he’s standing in the goal square by himself.

“Yes, a Carlton player probably should be standing beside him considering how good he is, but it’s that mindset, that will, that want to win a game of football and be the best that he possibly can… what can you say.

“Everyone is in awe of him.”

Collingwood head coach Craig McRae remains one of those in awe of the Pies' superstar, determined to ensure that his Collingwood side are aware of the level Daicos is operating at.

As revealed on Fox Footy's AFL360 on Monday night, McRae played Daicos' fourth term highlights in front of the entire side following their triumph over the Blues.

“I made sure today that our players didn't take for granted what he does,” McRae said on AFL360.

“Maybe you can get a little bit of, 'oh yeah he's at 39 and kicked a goal, he does that most weeks', but I showed most of these highlights to our playing group to show the gratitude and appreciation of what we've got in our building so we don't walk past and not reward this sort of behaviour.

“I said to him that not many can do this in front of Pendles (Scott Pendlebury) and Steele (Sidebottom) and all these players that have done it for a long time.

“What we're getting to witness right in front of our eyes is pretty special.”

Hodge likened Daicos to his own experience with the three-peat Hawks of the 2010s.

“Sometimes you take for granted some of the good things around you,” Hodge continued.

“I was able to train and play with two of the freaks of our generation in Bud (Lance Franklin) and Cyril (Rioli).

“Cyril would kick an amazing goal on the weekend and we’d go ‘eh, we’ve seen it four times this week at training’, but everyone else is pulling their hair out because of how good it was!

“Bud taking a dash down the wing, taking three bounces and kicking a goal… ‘he did that from the back flank last week at training’.

“You sit back and just expect these guys to do it, so for Fly to show what Nick was able to do in the last quarter, not by himself but a majority, he turned the table Collingwood’s way – make sure you guys enjoy this as well, because you don’t want to finish your career or for Nick to finish his career and go, ‘geez, I wish we still had the opportunity to watch him’.

“Really soak it up and marvel at what he can do.”

Daicos will play his 101st AFL game on Anzac Day, as he looks to double his Anzac Medal tally against Essendon this Saturday at the MCG.