Daicos' new contract on ice until AFL gives list size clarity
The AFL's process to finalise list sizes for 2021 is holding up some player contracts, as Josh Daicos and Collingwood negotiate a new deal.
Josh Daicos has been one of Collingwood's, and the AFL's, most improved players in 2020.Credit:Getty Images
Out of contract at season’s end, Daicos’ signature all of a sudden looms as an important one for the Pies, with Jordan De Goey and Darcy Moore also hitting the end of their agreements with the club this year.
Both parties want Daicos’ future secured at Collingwood but sources with knowledge of negotiations say a final deal likely won’t happen before list sizes are settled, and therefore salary cap clarity for next year is achieved.
Josh, the son of Pies legend Peter Daicos, has starred for his side in 2020 with his performances generating interest from rival clubs.
Coming out of a two-year contract at the end of season 2020 it’s likely a new deal at the Pies would also be for two seasons.
Those who have observed Daicos’ development closely in 2020 say his improvement has come off the back of more time as a winger - a position where he excels and can have more of an impact - as opposed to playing as a high half forward as he has in previous seasons.
Daicos and Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley had a heart-to-heart meeting at the end of last season where Daicos was told his career could go either way heading into 2020, depending on how he approached the final year of his contract.
The classy 21-year-old heeded the advice and has developed into one of Collingwood’s best trainers this season.
An important moment for Daicos’s development came when he was selected for the round seven clash against Geelong after missing the previous week due to an ankle injury.
It was a show of confidence by Collingwood in Daicos as a solid member of the best 22, when in previous seasons that automatic re-call may not have happened.
He has played every game this season except for the round six Hawthorn match, kicking 10 goals and having more than 20 disposals on six occasions.
Josh's younger brother Nick is one of the top youngsters in the 2021 draft pool.