Sportsmen’s Club to host Macedonian Marvel

The Magician: Peter Daicos is speaking at the next Ballarat Sportsmen’s Club dinner. Photo: SUPPLIED

AUSTRALIAN rules footy fans are invited to hear one of the game’s all-time greats speak in Ballarat early next month.

Collingwood Football Club legend and Hall of Famer Peter Daicos will be the Ballarat Sportsmen’s Club’s special guest speaker at their next dinner on Wednesday 6 September.

The ‘Macedonian Marvel’ is set to share insights from his 250-game career as a Magpie, from his 1979 debut until his retirement in 1993.

Throughout the 14 years, Daicos was a vice-captain, premiership player, and a leading goalkicker, amassing 549 majors.

“In the 1990 season, Daicos scored 97 goals,” said BSC committee member Greg Whitecross.

“His skills in scoring from seemingly impossible angles, as well as his ability to get rid of defenders, led pundits to start naming him The Magician.

“Daicos was selected three times in the VFL-AFL All-Australian team, represented Victoria five times, with 12 goals, won two best and fairest awards and was five times leading goal kicker at the Magpies.

“In retirement, Daicos was selected in the Collingwood Team of the Century and is a member of the Australian Football Hall of Fame.”

Any follower of the AFL in 2023 would find it difficult to be unaware of the next generation of high-performing Daicos athletes, with sons Josh and Nick making an impact as teammates in Collingwood Football Club’s senior men’s team.

Set for the Ballarat Golf Club, the two-course dinner is $45 per person with the event starting at 7pm, with a 6.30pm arrival.