After one of the best debut seasons of all time, the question has been asked why Collingwood’s Nick Daicos wasn’t taken at pick no. 1 in the 2021 National Draft.
While Daicos was always heading to the Magpies as a father-son selection, Collingwood would have been thrilled to have Oakleigh Chargers product slide to pick four as North Melbourne and GWS both opted not to place bids on the ball-winner.
With Jason Horne-Francis going at pick one to North Melbourne, the Giants first bid on Sam Darcy – who went to the Bulldogs as a father-son – before taking Finn Callaghan, with Gold Coast finally bidding on Daicos at the fourth slot.
Someone who’s seen Nick up close throughout his junior years is close friend of the Daicos family Stephen Silvagni, and the former Carlton list manager couldn’t believe the Magpie wasn’t picked first overall in his draft year.
“I saw Nick Daicos, he was over at mine growing up,” Silvagni said on AFL Trade Radio’s The Late Trade.
“I knew he was going to be a star.
“Hats off Pete, because he’d always have a kick with his boys … he always had a ball in his hand, Nick.
“You just knew he was going to be a super player, I can’t believe he wasn’t pick one.”
In response to Silvagni, former North Melbourne coach David Noble explained why the Kangaroos ultimately decided to select Horne-Francis ahead all-comers with pick one.
“His (Horne-Francis’) form in a men’s competition for two years running, elevated him to the best kid in the country at the time,” Noble said.
“His performance in a final particularly for South (Adelaide), he had five shots on goal.
“He had two years, people forget, as a 17- and 18-year-old in a men’s competition.
“That was the argument, that was the debate, around ‘Daics’ and nominating.
“At the end of the day, he (Horne-Francis) wanted to be seen as the best player in the country.”
Daicos claimed the Rising Star award in 2022 after averaging 25.8 disposals from 25 games for Collingwood while Horne-Francis showed glimpses of his immense potential in 17 games for North Melbourne.
