Even after a record-breaking Brownlow Medal win, Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos admits it still "sucks" to be watching from the sidelines this September.
Daicos set a new votes record of 47 on Monday night, clinching the game's top individual honour after previously running second in 2025 and 2024 and third in 2023.
The 23-year-old was a premiership player in 2023 but after a wildcard round exit this year, following a preliminary final defeat last season, Daicos is desperate for an earlier bed time for the 2027 Brownlow count.
"Oh, it sucks," Daicos said on Tuesday about the feeling of Collingwood finishing 10th.
"That's every footballer's dream (to play in big finals), that's when you want to be out there and proving your worth.
"At the moment, we're we're not able to do that so it does suck at the moment."
But with dual Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale and veteran Jesse Hogan set to join Collingwood this off-season, Daicos is confident of a quick bounce back up the ladder.
"We're not far off," he said.
"I know 'Fly's' (coach Craig McRae) got everything it takes to get us to to where we need to be.
"We've got the youth coming through now and it's a really exciting time for the club."
Daicos captained Collingwood for periods this year in the absence of injured premiership skipper Darcy Moore.
Like the bold Nike ads that popped up on Monday before he won his first Brownlow Medal, Daicos' rise to permanent captaincy is inevitable.
McRae has even strongly suggested it could be as soon as next season.
"I don't know about that," Daicos said.
"We've got many really good leaders ... six or seven people currently in the leadership group.
"I really enjoyed the opportunity with Brayden (Maynard) this season.
Superstar midfielder Daicos has Collingwood in his veins.
The son of club legend Peter Daicos and younger brother of classy Magpie Josh Daicos, he was a teenage prodigy and has worked hard to become the best player in the AFL.
Already a megastar at arguably the biggest club in the AFL, Daicos's profile will only grow further with potentially at least a decade in the game still to come.
"At times, it's definitely overwhelming," Daicos said.
"I've probably become a little bit numb to it - I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing.
"But I just try and focus on my daily processes and what works for me."
The 23-year-old was a self-confessed "absolute nuffy" as a child, watching as much football as he could.
But his family drew the line at Daicos coming home in a Carlton guernsey singing the Blues' song.
"I'm not kidding, Dad was treating me like a COVID patient. I was eight years old. I wasn't getting fed. I had to like, isolate," Daicos joked.
"It was a brutal time, so I had to come back to Collingwood."
