Collingwood dealt health scare as Covid and flu hit Magpies HQ ahead of King’s Holiday clash 

Collingwood’s preparations for the blockbuster clash against Melbourne on Monday have been disrupted by a bout of flu that has sidelined Josh Daicos.

Daicos and his brother Nick have been key figures in the Magpies’ success this season, with Collingwood top of the ladder with 11 wins in 12 rounds, and are in line to earn All-Australian honours.

News of Daicos’ illness comes after a number of Collingwood players reported contracting Covid-19 or flu over the past two weeks.

Last week, coach Craig McRae stayed away from the players in the lead-up to the Magpies’ trip to Perth. 

‘We’ve had a bit of virus. I got it last week and it’s just going through the place,’ he said this week.

Josh Daicos is expected to miss Collingwood’s clash with Melbourne because of illness

‘But we’re very strict on your ability to come in with anything so it doesn’t get like last year.

‘Nearly the whole club got it for a three-week period, so we’re pretty strict on our protocols right now.

‘It’s just the natural course of what’s happening in society and we’ve just got to be diligent.

‘You go over to Perth and you catch things on planes. We just make the protocols that if you’ve got anything you’re not coming in the walls, hence why I was away last week.’

The Daicos were scheduled to appear to a function in Bannockburn in country Victoria on Saturday night alongside their father and former Collingwood legend Peter.

On Saturday afternoon, however, the Bannockburn Railway Hotel announced the event would have to be postponed.

‘It is with regret we must inform you that Macedonian Marvels “An Evening with Peter, Josh & Nick Daicos” will not be going ahead tonight,’ the venue said in a statement.

‘We have just been informed that both Josh and Nick have fallen ill. On club advice, they are on bed rest in an effort to be fit for Monday.’

Daicos and his brother Nick (left) were scheduled to attend a function in country Victoria on Saturday night, which was cancelled after he fell ill 

Nick Daicos trained as usual this week and is expected to be fit to play Melbourne on Monday

Confusingly, the Magpies maintain only Josh has fallen ill, while Nick trained as normal on Saturday.

The younger of the two Daicos brothers, Nick is the runaway favourite to win the Brownlow Medal this season. 

Collingwood take on third-placed Melbourne at the MCG on the King’s Birthday looking to move clear at the top of the ladder.

Port Adelaide drew level with the Magpies on Friday night after beating the Western Bulldogs by 22 points.