Nick Daicos' bid for back-to-back AFL MVP trophies is the headline story out of the Club's nominations for the 2026 AFL Players Associations awards, set to be announced on Tuesday night's AFL Awards.
Daicos has been nominated alongside brother Josh and key defender Billy Frampton as the Pies' trio for the top gong, which recognises the best player in the league according to the current playing cohort.
Daicos took out the award in 2025 in what was his first Leigh Matthews Trophy.
His season averaging a league-high 34.9 disposals has him in strong contention, while his brother's season average of 27.2 touches and Frampton's breakout campaign have seen the pair also rewarded with recognition.
In the Best First Year Player category, first-year star Sam Swadling is the black and white's hope, having stormed onto the scene in the back half of 2026.
The 19-year-old had 32 touches in Round 24 - a new career-high in his eight career games - and has brought class and exuberance in his time at the top level so far.
Fearless Vice-Captain Brayden Maynard is up in the Most Courageous section - an award the Pies haven't won since Gavin Brown took out the first two back inn 1991-92.
The Robert Rose Award is the players' nod to those who put their body on the line week in week out, with Maynard a strong chance of taking our the honour.
Darcy Moore is the final Magpie to be in with a chance on Tuesday, with the defender nominated for Best Captain.
The 2023 Premiership skipper has been hampered by injuries in 2026, however he continues to display leadership across all areas of the Club.
Winners of the awards will be announced at the AFL Awards, broadcast live on Fox Footy and kayosports.com.au on Tuesday 25 August at 7:30pm. The All-Australian team, AFL Coaches Association Champion Player and other key accolades are also set to be announced on the evening.
Nick and Josh Daicos were today announced as part of the 46-player All-Australian squad of which the 23-player team will be picked from.
The awards come ahead of the Pies’ maiden Wildcard Final on Friday night against the Western Bulldogs at the MCG, with details of the clash including ticketing confirmed by the AFL on Sunday evening.
