Ahead of dynamo Nick Daicos bringing up his 100th career game this Thursday night, the question has to be asked if it’s the best start to a career in the history of the game.
So, the eye has been ran over all 99 of the 23-year-old’s AFL matches so far to break down just how impressive his immediate rise to the game’s elite has been.
With 10 40+ disposal outings already, there was no shortage of stellar performances to choose from. But the subjectivity lies in the rankings, with the countdown up for debate.
#10: Game 34 – Round 9, 2023
The Pies comfortably defeated GWS at the MCG and Daicos was at his damaging best, notching up the fourth 40-plus disposal game of his career in just his 34th game. In the midst of a breakout second season, the stunning display came off the back of being heavily targeted the week before by the Sydney Swans, a game where he endured one of the hardest tags of his career to that date.
#9: Game 96 – Opening Round, 2026
Season number five was opened with a bang by Daicos, as he led the Pies to a 12-point victory over St Kilda with 41 touches. It was the 10th time he reached the 40-disposal mark in his career, with the 23-year-old running out as skipper to open the 2026 season in the absence of the injured Darcy Moore.
#8: Game 30 – Round 5, 2023
Daicos set a new personal best for disposals with 42 in this clash at Adelaide Oval against St Kilda, as the Pies narrowly triumphed in their maiden Gather Round fixture. It was part of a stellar start to the now famed 2023 season, where Daicos established himself as the new star of the competition within weeks of his second year in the league.
#7: Game 70 – Round 24, 2024
The Pies finished Daicos’ third season with a comfortable win over Melbourne. The number 35 put an exclamation mark on a remarkable year with 40 disposals and two majors, in a game delayed halfway through by lightning.
#6: Game 66 – Round 20, 2024
It was the supreme version of Daicos for this clash with the Tigers as the third-year star notched up 42 touches in a 26-point win – an equal career-best in disposals at the time. The Pies needed to win to keep their faint finals hopes alive and Daicos took the reins from the outset.
#5: Game 57 – Round 10, 2024
A classic against Adelaide saw the Pies prevail by single digits yet again and it was in no short part on the back of Daicos’ heroics, with the midfielder racking up 41 touches at the MCG. In the wet conditions, the midfielder showed his class from the first bounce to lead the way in the win.
#4: Game 17 – Round 18, 2022
It will forever be remembered as the breakout game of Daicos, with the first-year star racking up 40 disposals for the first time, while also slotting three crucial goals. Part of the Pies’ amazing run of close wins throughout the 2022 season, Daicos put his side on his back to drag them over the line to celebrate Scott Pendlebury’s 350th AFL game with a five-point win.
#3: Game 88 – Round 19, 2025
Daicos set his new benchmark at 43 touches as the Pies went down in a heartbreaker – losing by just one point against Fremantle at the MCG. The number 35 ran rampant across the MCG and looked to be leading his side to an important victory until the Dockers surged late to clinch the win.
#2: Game 31 – Round 6, 2023
Things went up another notch in Daicos’ dazzling second season when he earnt a first Anzac Day Medal on the back of 40 touches and two goals. In a come-from-behind win over Essendon, Daicos inspired his team and produced some of the most iconic moments from the Pies’ premiership season to more than earn the medal.
#1: Game 89 – Round 20, 2025
Daicos didn’t quite better his disposal tally from the week before in the clash with Fremantle, but he did perhaps with overall output to notch the greatest game of his career to date. The midfielder collected 41 touches and kicked three goals in an important win over Richmond that came off the back of consecutive close loses. Not only were the pure numbers of 41 touches and three goals eye-catching, but the goals themselves had to be seen to be believed, putting the cherry on top of a dominant Daicos day.
