For yet another season in a career that is only in its fourth year, Nick Daicos is right amongst the top contenders to take out the Brownlow Medal.
Having finished third in 2023 after injury curtailed his chances of taking out the top honour and runner up last year behind the record-breaking Patrick Cripps, 2025 looms as the year the star midfielder could take the final step to the top of the podium.
With standout performances aplenty and a consistency that is rivalled by few across the competition, viewers can expect to hear N. Daicos regularly called out by AFL CEO Andrew Dillon throughout Monday night’s count.
Ahead of the AFL’s night of nights, we’ve broken down every game this season to determine just how many votes Daicos could finish on in his pursuit of Charlie.
Opening Round: 52-point loss against GWS
A tough start to the year for not only Daicos, but all of the Pies as they went down to a strong Giants outfit. The midfielder recorded 21 touches, however multiple opponents outshone in the season opener.
Verdict: 0 votes
Round 1: 91-point win against Port Adelaide
An increased output on the week before with 26 disposals and a goal in a domination of the Power. Will be competing with a suite of teammates who also stood out including Steel Sidebottom (31 touches), brother Josh (26 touches), Tim Membrey (four goals) and Jack Crisp (26 touches).
Verdict: 0 votes
Round 2: Six-point win against Western Bulldogs
The midfielder’s best game of the year to that point in an eye-catching performance. Recorded 39 disposals and nine clearances, standing up when the game was on the line alongside three-vote challenger and match-winner Steele Sidebottom (22 disposals and two goals). Likely to be the first time his name is heard for the count, and it could well be for maximum votes.
Verdict: 3 votes
Round 3: Bye
Round 4: 17-point win against Carlton
Finished with 27 touches and six clearances against the archrival but will be touch and go to land on the podium for the night in the eyes of the umpires. A host of players from both sides found more of the football than Daicos and Darcy Cameron starred in the ruck, while teammate Lachie Schultz took home the Richard Pratt Medal for best afield.
Verdict: 0 votes
Round 5: 31-point win against Sydney
A brilliant Gather Round win was in no small part due to Daicos’ brilliance as he picked up 34 touches at the Adelaide Oval. Steele Sidebottom continued his stunning early season form with 28 touches and will challenge for the three votes, while Ned Long played the best game of his career as he amassed 29 disposals and nine clearances.
Verdict: 3 votes
Round 6: 52-point win against Brisbane
You can just about lock three votes in here, with the prolific Daicos running rampant on Easter Thursday at the Gabba. His 38 disposals and a goal set up the big win over the reigning premiers, helped strongly by his older brother who collected 30 touches.
Verdict: 3 votes
Round 7: 41-point win against Essendon
Daicos ran out as Captain for the first time on Anzac Day and fittingly kicked the first goal – the first of his 31 touches for the day. The midfielder’s clean skills stood out on a wet day, as did Steele Sidebottom’s who took out his second Anzac Day Medal. Older brother Josh’s 36 touches and Jamie Elliott’s five goals might mean the younger Daicos can’t quite sneak into the votes despite his strong outing.
Verdict: 0 votes
Round 8: Three-point loss against Geelong
In one of the games of the year, Daicos was typically dynamic in the midfield, recording 28 touches, however he will be competing with plenty of players for the votes. Geelong stars Bailey Smith and Patrick Dangerfield will likely feature, while teammates Darcy Cameron, Scott Pendlebury, and Josh Daicos all staked their claim with strong performances.
Verdict: 1 vote
Round 9: 14-point win against Fremantle
The Pies bounced back brilliantly with a win on the road against the in-form Dockers, however it wasn’t the most productive evening for Daicos. Well held by his opponents and also spending some time up forward, the 22-year-old finished with 18 touches and a goal.
Verdict: 0 votes
Round 10: 10-point win against Adelaide
It was back to more regular programming for Daicos as he piled on 28 disposals in a close win over the Crows, however it might be a second week in-a-row where he misses the votes. Multiple Crows were strong and will likely feature despite the loss, while defenders Jeremy Howe and Brayden Maynard played some of their best games of the season.
Verdict: 0 votes
Round 11: 45-point win against North Melbourne
It’s shouldn’t be a matter of if he gets them, but rather how many votes he gets in a comfortable win over the Kangaroos, as Daicos returned to his ball-winning best. With 38 touches, it would appear only Ned Long’s 29-disposal, 14-tackle effort will see him challenged for maximum votes.
Verdict: 3 votes
Round 12: 51-point win against Hawthorn
Daicos was strong, as were many of his teammates in a dominant win over the Hawks. His 32 disposals were the most of anyone on the ground, while Jamie Elliott again kicked five goals and Steele Sidebottom two to go with his 27 touches. The margin shouldn’t see any Hawks in the top three vote-getters, so expect to hear Daicos’ name read out.
Verdict: 2 votes
Round 13: One-point win against Melbourne
Daicos was tagged heavily in a nail-biting King’s Birthday clash at the ‘G, however still managed to bob up with an important goal. The Daicos name will be read out, but it will likely be for Josh who took home best on ground honours.
Verdict: 0 votes
Round 14: Bye
Round 15: 34-point win against St. Kilda
Daicos returned from the bye refreshed and determined, kicking off his second half of the year with a bang. His 30 disposals and crucial goal as the Pies staved off a Saints resurgence led the way, likely netting him another three votes.
Verdict: 3 votes
Round 16: 29-point win against West Coast
The Daicos brothers will battle it out with Scott Pendlebury for the three votes in a game which could sway any way in the eyes of the umpires. Nick’s 34 touches and four shots on goal should have him right at the forefront, while Pendlebury played his best game of the year with 28 disposals and a goal.
Verdict: 2 votes
Round 17: 56-point win against Carlton
It’s going to be hard for the umpires to go past Daicos for the three votes on another fantastic night for the Pies against the Blues. The midfielder finished with 36 disposals and a goal, as he led the way in the Friday night victory.
Verdict: 3 votes
Round 18: Six-point loss against Gold Coast
Daicos was strong throughout this Friday night blockbuster on the Gold Coast, however with the result going in favour of the Suns, he might find himself out of the votes. Plenty of players on the home side stood up, while brother Josh was comfortably the Pies’ best on the night, nearly single-handedly dragging the black and white over the line after a move into the midfield.
Verdict: 0 votes
Round 19: One-point loss against Fremantle
A move to half back helped Daicos record a new career-high disposal tally, as he amassed 43 touches in a thriller against the Dockers. Despite the loss, you can nearly guarantee the three votes for the 22-year-old, with his 778 metres gained and eight clearances part of a standout day on the MCG.
Verdict: 3 votes
Round 20: 36-point win against Richmond
Arguably his best game of the season, Daicos dominated from start to finish against the Tigers. Staying at half back, the ball magnet tallied more than 40 touches for the second week running, while he also hit the scoreboard with three brilliant goals. Unlikely to be challenged for the three votes in consecutive weeks.
Verdict: 3 votes
Round 21: 27-point loss against Brisbane
Daicos played a strong game, however a relatively comfortable win for the Lions will make it hard for him to feature in the top three on the ground. Finished with 29 touches and a goal as one of his side’s best, however it will likely be a Brisbane sweep for all six votes available.
Verdict: 0 votes
Round 22: 64-point loss against Hawthorn
Steele Sidebottom’s 350th didn’t turn out the way the Pies had hoped, as the Hawks won comfortably at the MCG. Daicos collected 24 touches and produced a solid outing, however there were plenty of opponents more prolific on the night.
Verdict: 0 votes
Round 23: Three-point loss against Adelaide
In another nail-biter, Daicos tried his heart out in wet conditions at the Adelaide Oval. While it wasn’t quite enough to drag his side over the line, his 29 disposals and a goal could see him rewarded with the three votes, however there will be multiple challengers from both sides with no real standout players on the night.
Verdict: 3 votes
Round 24: Six-point win against Melbourne
Daicos wasn’t at his best, however he still contributed strongly as the Pies recorded a crucial win in the final home and away game of the season. Scott Pendlebury’s cool head led the Pies to victory, while Lachie Schultz, Jordan De Goey, and a host of Demons players will all likely be considered for the votes before Daicos.
Verdict: 0 votes
Predicted final tally: 32 votes
In what is set to be one of the closest counts in recent memory, it will likely only be the starring performances of his teammates that inhibit Daicos’ ability to claim his first Brownlow Medal. Steele Sidebottom will likely be a pesty three-vote stealer early in the season – with games against the Western Bulldogs, Sydney and Essendon all set to determine the course of the night – while older brother Josh could well pip him for the three at times.
