Collingwood’s Craig McRae Delivers Hilarious Take on Nick Daicos-Tasmania Devils Trade Talks

Collingwood coach Craig McRae has light-heartedly quipped that he might just follow Nick Daicos to Tasmania if the talented midfielder decides to join the new expansion team.

This playful remark comes after Daicos made some intriguing statements earlier in the week, indicating he would entertain the idea of exploring options when the Tasmanian Devils officially enter the league in 2028.

Currently, the young star is under contract until the conclusion of the 2029 season.

“I wouldn’t dismiss anything,” Daicos told The Age.

“It’s difficult to envision, given how far off it is – but I’m currently very content at Collingwood.

“It’s not something I’ve thought about much. Tasmania is still quite a while away, and (Derek) Hine’s gone there, which is a positive for him and obviously reflects his ties to Collingwood.

“I’m sure he’s scouting players he wants, but my focus is entirely on remaining at Collingwood for now, especially this year.”

When McRae was asked about Daicos’ remarks during his press conference, he couldn’t help but chuckle.

“If Nick goes to Tassie, I’m going with him,” McRae jested.

“It’s a package deal.”

The Devils already have a hint of Collingwood’s influence, having brought on former Magpies list manager Derek Hine. Additionally, club icon Nathan Buckley is rumoured to be in consideration to become the team’s first-ever coach.

This situation is reminiscent of Gary Ablett Jnr’s move from Geelong to join Gold Coast’s inaugural team.

When asked if he took the possibility of Daicos leaving seriously, McRae replied, “Not at this stage.”

“I love Nick; please don’t leave,” he added.

In recent weeks, Daicos has faced intense scrutiny from opponents like Melbourne’s Ed Langdon and St Kilda’s Marcus Windhager, who was fined for a rough tackle during their matchup.

McRae mentioned he has spoken to AFL umpires chief Dan Richardson about ensuring Daicos is adequately protected, as he received four free kicks against St Kilda.

“I had a chat with Dan Richardson earlier this week, and it was a routine discussion,” McRae explained.

“He contacted me regarding another matter, and I said, ‘I want to know your thoughts on the current situation.'”

“I discussed this with the umpires during training today, and we don’t want to create a narrative that isn’t true.

“It’s about understanding how they view things. We’re dedicated to protecting our talent, and Nick is an essential player we want to support. Upon reviewing our previous contests, we were pleased with how we managed to keep Nick safe.

“Without going into too much detail, I believe there’s a significant level of attention from the umpires on him.

“I was glad to learn that – there are four umpires actively monitoring the situation, especially around stoppages. It’s reassuring to receive that feedback.”

Collingwood is set to take on West Coast at Marvel Stadium this Saturday night, in a contest featuring the top and bottom teams of the league.