AFL fans laud Nick Daicos after the Collingwood young gun dominated Essendon to win ANZAC Day medal

Nick Daicos has been hailed as a future Hall of Famer after the 20-year-old star snatched victory from Essendon in a pulsating Anzac Day clash at the MCG.

Down by 28 points at three-quarter-time, the Magpies stormed home with 7.2 to 0.3 in the last term to steal a classic, 13.12 (90) to 11.11 (77).

And that was helped in large part by Daicos’s contributions. He finished with 40 possessions, but it was his two vital goals in the last quarter that truly earned him his first Anzac Medal.

The 20-year-old, in his second season, has been prolific in almost every game he has played this year to be comfortably favourite for the Brownlow Medal.

‘Might as well give him the Brownlow now,’ one fan said on Twitter. Another added: ‘Won’t be the last medal he wins. Great footballer.’

A third fan said: ‘Enter him into the Hall of Fame now! What a jet!’ while one fan  believes the youngster will be fighting Bulldogs star Marcus Bontempelli for the big prize at the end of the season. 

Even the Essendon faithful were purring over Daicos’s performance. ‘Undeniable star, wish he was in different colours.’ 

‘Why do people bag Daicos?’ another fan asked. ‘Is it just sad Twitter people. I don’t follow the Pies but to criticise Daicos is ridiculous.’ 

After a tight first half, Essendon turned a two-point halftime deficit into a 28-point advantage by the final change after surging with 6.3 to 1.3 in the third quarter.

But exhilarating comebacks have been a trademark of Collingwood since Craig McRae took over as coach ahead of the 2022 season.

The Magpies’ momentum was undeniable for Essendon, who appeared to be on track for an unlikely 5-1 start to the season under new coach Brad Scott.

Nathan Kreuger booted the first major of the final term to put Collingwood within four goals, before Ash Johnson truly got the Magpies going.

The mercurial forward took possession outside 50 on a tight angle, wheeled around onto his right boot and kicked a monster goal.

It was heartbreak again for Essendon, after Jamie Elliott had nailed an extraordinary goal after the siren to seal a Collingwood win in the previous meeting between the two traditional rivals last year.

Sam Draper had an opportunity to put the Bombers back in front with six minutes remaining but the Essendon ruckman missed an easy set-shot.

Veteran Steele Sidebottom, who was outstanding with 31 disposals, made Draper pay at the other end by sealing Collingwood’s win with a goal on the run.

Bombers midfielder Jye Caldwell will likely face scrutiny from the match review officer for a strike to the stomach of Nick Daicos in the third quarter.

Defender Jayden Laverde was subbed out after suffering a shoulder injury in the third quarter and was replaced by Essendon teammate Ben Hobbs.