AFL talent ambassador Kevin Sheehan has rated the debut season of Collingwood\u2019s Nick Daicos as the best he has seen.<\/p>\n
\u2018Shifter\u2019 Sheehan has been in the caper for decades and as such has seen hundreds of youngsters come through the junior ranks before immediately impacting at AFL level.<\/p>\n
There have been some incredible first-year performances over the journey including Sam Walsh (2019), Joel Selwood (2007), Paul Hasleby (2000), Nathan Buckley (1993) and Chris Grant (1990), but none stand out more than that of Magpie young gun Daicos.<\/p>\n
Sheehan was asked by Dwayne Russell if he\u2019s seen as impressive a first year from a player in his time in the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think I have to be quite honest,\u201d he said on SEN\u2019s Dwayne\u2019s World<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was an unbelievable year that\u2019s he produced and off the back of missing half of last year, they stopped in July the boys.<\/p>\n \u201cHe dominated every game he played in last year after missing the complete year before which was normally a development year.\u201d<\/p>\n Sheehan said the son of Pies legend Peter and brother of established senior player Josh has been able to keep his game in good order despite the COVID-impacted blocks across both the 2020 and 2021 seasons.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no doubt with Pete overseeing his program and Josh to train with he\u2019s been able to supplement it,\u201d Sheehan said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was able to train a little bit at Collingwood in the summer months and he\u2019s been part of the NAB AFL Academy so he\u2019s had some other support networks to allow his training.<\/p>\n \u201cBut gee, just an unbelievable standard he sets for young players coming in with the way he entertained us this year.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d think that it\u2019s the best [first season] that I have seen in my time.\u201d<\/p>\n Daicos, 19, has averaged a tick under 26 disposals playing a variety of roles, but mainly as a rebounding half-back.<\/p>\n The former Oakleigh Charger has collected 20 or more disposals in 22 of his 24 debut-season appearances.<\/p>\n Daicos has already claimed the AFLPA Best First Year Player award as well as the NAB Rising Star award and is expected to finish high in Collingwood\u2019s best and fairest.<\/p>\n He played in his first preliminary final when the Magpies met the Sydney Swans at the SCG on Saturday evening.<\/p>\n \n