Carlton Blues coach Michael Voss wraps his arms around Elijah Hollands; Collingwood Magpies superstar Nick Daicos shines brightest

Two players stood out in the game, which was decided by one shot.

Collingwood champion Nick Daicos played one of the best final quarters of the game in his 100th game. He single-handedly took his side over the line in a match decided by just five points.

But Carlton’s Elijah Hollands finished the game with a single tackle, a kick. He rarely got near the ball, and when he did, he looked lost.

He spent most of the final part of the last term on the bench in a game in which the Blues once again led after three quarters but lost.

Blues coach Michael Voss said after the match that he was “pretty devastated” by Hollands’ play.

“I spoke to him after the game and he was really disappointed with the way he started the game. You know, he was really upset,” the Blues coach said.

“He kind of feels like he let me down. So I had a nice chat with him. He was pretty emotional after the game.”

“He didn’t have a great game and struggled to find his way and was clearly, obviously, really disappointed with his performance.

“Obviously he feels like he let people down because of the importance of the night, but we need to continue to support people in situations like this.”

Voss was asked if he was worried about Hollands while he was on the bench at the end of the game.

“He was clearly disappointed in himself and the game he was playing,” Voss said.

“So you know, [when] When it comes to the last quarter, with five minutes left, you need to calculate what kind of mix you have and what you want on the field.

“He wasn’t having a great night. So, yeah, [there were] constant conversations with him. But you know we thought the best mix would be for him not to be there.”

Josh Daicos was breathing a sigh of relief as the Blues had to think about another win. He almost ruined his little brother’s script.

After Collingwood overcame an 18-point deficit at three quarters (which had as much to do with Carlton’s ability to mount a comeback as it did with their ability to stifle), old Daicos awarded a last-minute free kick with his side a goal ahead.

Daicos was adjudged to have pushed Talor Byrne behind, giving the 18-year-old Blue a shot at goal seconds before the siren sounded in only his fourth game. If Byrne had actually been able to kick, the game would have ended in a draw. He missed to the left.

“I feel a little sick talking about this right now,” Josh Daicos told this imprint after the game.

“You know, we worked hard all night to get back in the game and unfortunately he gave me one. [and] I gave one back to him. You can’t do that in today’s match.”

Josh remained on target as Byrne took the shot.

“It felt like an eternity,” he said. “I was watching him the whole time, [and] He watched his ball fall.

“I thought that wasn’t good, but I thought the wind was going to be blowing from left to right, so I took a look and it was on the left.”

As Josh began to relax, Carlton players rushed to console a shattered Byrnes.

“It’s not all on the young man’s shoulders,” Voss said of the missed kick.

“He couldn’t quite get the job done, but the boys rallied. You win together, you lose together. In that special moment, it was nice to see the players rally around him as strongly as they did.”

“He was a pretty sad young man, but he needs to know that he doesn’t have to put up with all of this.”

At three quarters Voss did not share the Carlton faithful’s sense of fear.

He said the Blues were ready for the challenge. Tonight was different.

The Blues found new ways to score goals, showing that they no longer relied on stopping the game, but could score goals by passing the ball from defense to attack.

Voss did not count on two things: Nick Daicos being spooned silver serve by ruckman Oscar Steene to dominate center clearances, and losing key striker Harry McKay to concussion midway through the final term.

Voss had recently sent Ollie Hollands to Daicos after giving Sam Walsh the job in the first three quarters. Daicos was too smart for his new title.

The new tactic has caused confusion among Carlton players recently.

While trying to figure out who would play where in the change to close Daicos, they conceded a crucial center distance, violating the six-six-six rule.

After three quarters, Collingwood coach Craig McRae knew the game was still up for grabs. Like the Carlton faithful, he understood that the recently injured Blues were vulnerable.

He told his Magpies to take some risks and turn up the pressure. It was music to Nick Daicos’ ears.

Collingwood scored six goals in the first three quarters and came home with seven in the final term.

“I think our pressure was through the roof in the last quarter, especially in the first half,” McRae said.

“It was a good version of us. It would be nice to restart that.”

The aggressive approach not only sparked a Magpies revival but also inspired small forward Jamie Elliott, who returned to form with three goals.

In the end, it was up to Josh Daicos to praise his brother at the end of his landmark game.

“Seeing him grow as a football player and then seeing him grow as a person off the field was the most amazing thing about it,” he said. “I love playing with him every week and it’s something I never take for granted.”

Collingwood expects to bring Jordan De Goey (concussion) and Steele Sidebottom (hip) back for the annual Anzac Day clash with Essendon.

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