Collingwood coach reminds football world Nick Daicos remains on a long-term contract; Fremantle Dockers big man Patrick Voss has apologised to Harrison Petty for the taunt he used
Updated ,first published
Summary of football news from today’s AFL Briefing:
- Pies coach Craig McRae has issued a harsh reminder about Nick Daicos’ contract situation.
- Patrick Voss apologized to Harrison Petty and said he was unaware of the origins of the tearful taunt.
Collingwood coach Craig McRae has reminded that Nick Daicos is well-paid and successful at the Magpies, and the star midfielder’s long-term future continues to make headlines.
Daicos, 23, has a contract until the end of 2029 but is an important player for the Tasmania Devils, who will join the AFL in 2028.
The superb offensive player is the Magpies’ highest-paid player, making $1.1 million a season and will pocket $1.4 million in coming years, but the Devils could offer him a 10-year, $25 million deal that includes a significant portion of his $5 million signing bonus.
A day after Daicos told Fox Footy he was “really happy” at Collingwood, McRae reminded the football world that Daicos and his brother Josh were well-paid.
“Look, the one thing I would say about Nick and Josh is that they are absolutely successful in their environment and they are paid extremely well, and they should be,” McRae said.
“They train as well as anyone we’ve ever had, so [they’re] “It is thriving and well cared for.”
McRae said he talks to Daicos regularly about the “noise out there.”
“I talk to Nick regularly about these things. I think so, right? Other people create the story. Last time I checked he had a four-year contract,” McRae said.
Josh Daicos, who signed a six-year contract extension, has a contract with his club until the end of 2030.
The Daicos brothers and their father, Collingwood great Peter, made headlines last weekend when they attended speaking events in Tasmania where they posed for photos with Devils board director Roger Curtis, a Collingwood fan. Their visit coincided with the Devils making their VFL debut in front of a packed crowd.
Nick Daicos said the trip was “planned a long time ago, in December” after the Magpies’ early-season farewell was confirmed.
“I had planned to play some golf there, I had a few dates and coincidentally the VFL was playing its first game so it didn’t line up very well,” he said.
The Magpies co-captain said his agent Robbie D’Orazio of CDG Sports Management was interested in possible approaches.
“I don’t talk to my manager very much about these types of issues,” Daicos said.
“He can talk to those kinds of people all he wants… If Tassie wants to continue that conversation, he can talk to them. I’m really happy at Collingwood.”
The Magpies and the Daicos have not yet started talks on a contract extension. D’Orazio has been contacted for comment.
Industry sources said the Magpies were keen to begin talks with their star and understood he would need to remain their highest-paid player or be extremely close to their highest-paid player if they were to pursue a marquee manager like Port Adelaide’s Zak Butters or an off-contract star.
But they are also aware of what it will take to assemble a list capable of competing for the prime ministership; This often requires a more equal spread of wages.
McRae said captain Darcy Moore (hamstring) and fellow senior Jeremy Howe (calf) would return from injury for Friday night’s clash with Greater Western Sydney at Marvel Stadium.
McRae said the Magpies were working closely to create more “links” going forward in order to be stronger on the scoreboard. The Prime Minister’s coach did not ignore the fact that Howe, a typical defender, spent time in his team’s attacking 50 meters.
Bobby Hill had his second practice after returning from personal leave; McRae suggested the 2023 Norm Smith medalist was fitter than the club initially expected and could return to the squad ahead of schedule. However, McRae said there is still no specific date for Hill’s matchday return.
-Jon Pierik
Voss says she used ‘cry taunt’ on Petty without knowing its origins
Roy Ward
Fremantle forward Patrick Voss has apologized to Melbourne’s Harrison Petty, saying he mocked him for his crying gesture without understanding the background behind it.
Voss faced a backlash following the Dockers’ win over Melbourne on Saturday night after he taunted Petty late in the first period by rubbing his head and then making a crying motion, after which Voss’s own teammates were seen trying to push him away.
Voss apologized to Petty on Wednesday, saying he used the sarcasm regardless of its origins.
The tearful reference was to an incident in 2022 in which Petty became emotional after Lions captain Dayne Zorko teased him about a member of his family.
Voss was also cited for unsporting conduct by the AFL match review official and fined $1500.
“From the bottom of my heart, I had no context for this whole situation,” Voss told Triple M in Perth on Wednesday.
“At the end of the game, as soon as I had some context for it, I reached out to Harry and let him know that there was nothing bad behind it. He was really nice about it, so I’m glad I was able to reach him and he was able to accept my apology.”
When asked how he could use this gesture without knowing the context, Voss said he misunderstood.
“If I had my time again, there was no way I would have gone down that path. And obviously that’s where I made a mistake,” Voss told Triple M.
“Of course I raise my hand and say I was wrong.
“I didn’t even hear the rumours, anything like that. Obviously I was talking about the time he was crying in Brisbane but I had no idea why he was crying.”
Voss also called Dockers coach Justin Longmuir on Sunday and apologized for taking attention away from his side’s win and strong start to 2026.
“The club has been incredible this week in terms of reinforcing to me that they still want me to be competitive and walk the tightrope as you say,” Voss told Triple M.
“Obviously I exceeded the goal over the weekend… I put my hand up and claimed it [it]And in that sense, I kind of apologized to them.
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