Nick Daicos praised for classy act amid tough Toby Greene heartbreak
The young Collingwood star showed his class only seconds after the siren.
Young Collingwood player Nick Daicos has shown his class having consoled GWS captain Toby Greene only seconds after the siren following Collingwood's one-point win. Collingwood has reached their first final since 2018 having come from behind to defeat GWS 58-57 in one of the best games of the season.
In front of 97,000 AFL fans at the MCG, Greene put on a masterclass to drag the Giants into the contest and give them some hope. Greene scored two goals, but was instrumental in everything the Giants did as they fought till the end.
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But, using the energy from the deafening atmosphere, the Magpies held on with seconds left in a game that will go down as an all-time thriller. After the siren, GWS players slumped to the ground having come so close to winning three matches on the road in a row.
In stark contrast, the MCG erupted with Jordan De Goey charging onto the field as the Magpies burst into tears of joy. However, amid the tears and jubilation, 20-year-old Daicos showed his class to immediately console Greene.
Daicos and Greene had been involved in a highly controversial moment earlier in the third quarter with many viewers fuming the Magpies youngster wasn't penalised for a head high tackle on the GWS captain. Regardless, Greene had given the preliminary final his all and was devastated having fallen to his knees after the siren.
And Daicos went straight up to his rival and put his arm around him in a moment broadcast to the AFL world. Fans from both teams were complimentary of the 20-year-old whose first act was to congratulate his rivals for the contest.
Respect to Nick Daicos for going over to Toby Greene pretty much after the game ended after just making your first Grand Final at 20 years old.
Game respects game. #AFLPiesGiants— dylan (@PrimeWalsh) September 22, 2023
So much respect and admiration for Nick Daicos’ act after the final siren.
Took time out from celebrating the win with teammates to go over and console an emotional Toby Greene.
Mature and all class. 👏🏻— J (@jordss27) September 22, 2023
Got some class the kid
— Mac (@MacFlashmanInc) September 22, 2023
Toby Greene in tears after AFL preliminary final loss
Despite the heartache, Greene was all class as captain after the match. “It’s hard to reflect on the season when you get that close. That one hurts. That one really hurts,” Greene told Channel 7.
“It’s a tough changeroom at the moment, but we’ll come together. We’ll come back stronger. You put yourself out there, you get that close, that’s what happens.
“It was an awesome year, but once you get this close you want to go on and win it. We felt like we were good enough too, but hats off to Collingwood they were tough tonight. Flip of a coin, really, in the end and it just hurts.”
In the locker room, cameras showed Greene in tears having become so close to another grand final. Fox Sports analyst and five-time All-Australian Garry Lyon pointed out how much the players put into the season having just watched the locker room footage.
“You want to know how hard it is to lose a prelim final (that way)? These are some shots from down in the GWS rooms and there’s a man who is as tough and as hard and as inspirational as any in the competition – and it just rips your soul out,” five-time All-Australian Garry Lyon told Fox Footy.
“I’ve not won one (a premiership), but that makes winning one so great, because the devastation of not getting there from a prelim, let alone losing a grand final … it gives you an insight into how invested these boys are.”
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