Collingwood star responds to rival AFL clubs' interest

In today’s AFL Briefing, your daily wrap of footy news:

Pressed on whether Collingwood fans had anything to worry about before the trade deadline, Nick Daicos gave an adamant reply.

Hawthorn defender insists prospective teammate Zach Merrett is “well within his rights” to agitate for a trade.

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Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos has put to bed any hint of a suggestion he could be tempted into a trade move, amid reports rival AFL clubs have asked questions about luring him away.

Daicos, who finished runner-up in the Brownlow Medal for the second straight year, is contracted to the Magpies until the end of 2029.

But that hasn’t stopped rivals making contact with Daicos and his management, while launching audacious bids for the 22-year-old midfield gun.

“I guess it’s just that time of year, isn’t it?” Daicos said on Saturday at Caulfield racecourse. “I’ll leave all that business with my manager, Robbie D’Orazio, he does a great job.

“He always says to me, ‘if it’s anything serious and I need to let you know, I’ll let you know.’

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“He hasn’t let me know as of yet. There’s always movement going on but I just wait to hear from a call from Robbie.”

Pressed on whether Collingwood fans had anything to worry about before Wednesday’s trade deadline, Daicos was adamant.

“I can put that to bed. I don’t think so,” he said. “As I said, Robbie handles all that stuff and I haven’t heard anything, so it’s just business as usual and I’m contracted.

“I keep putting my effort and energy into the Collingwood Football Club.”

The Magpies are considering a move for North Melbourne’s Jy Simpkin, who is searching for more midfield time elsewhere after finishing the 2025 season in a wing role.

“That would be awesome,” Daicos said.

“As ‘Fly’ (coach Craig McRae) has said many times, we want to keep improving and become a better football club.

“So any time that you can welcome in a star player from an opposition, you’d jump at that opportunity, and I think the club’s doing their best to try and get him across.

“He’d definitely help us, so that would be great.”

Daicos also addressed the controversy surrounding coach Craig McRae’s comments about Collingwood’s best-and-fairest award, after ruckman Darcy Cameron pipped Daicos to the honour this year.

McRae last week admitted he felt Daicos could have received more votes and said he wanted to “challenge” the process the Magpies have in place.

“Darcy Cameron is one of my good mates, and he had a great year,” Daicos said.

Top Hawk backs Merrett’s right to push for trade

Hawthorn star Tom Barrass insists prospective recruit Zach Merrett is “well within his rights” to agitate for a trade despite his status as a contracted Essendon player.

The Bombers have been adamant they won’t trade their captain and six-time best-and-fairest winner Merrett, who has two years left on his existing deal.

But that hasn’t stopped the Hawks, led by coach Sam Mitchell, making a strong play for the 30-year-old midfield ball-magnet ahead of Wednesday’s trade deadline.

Merrett is one of an increasing number of high-profile players trying to switch clubs while in contract, with the bold move becoming more commonplace in recent times.

It has angered and frustrated clubs who believe players have too much power in the market.

Former West Coast defender Barrass was under contract when he requested a move to Hawthorn last year, and on Saturday backed Merrett’s right to do what is best for him.

“The landscape’s changed a little bit the last few years,” Barrass said.

“Free agency and a bunch of rules around trades has sort of incentivised player movement.

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