A breathtaking final two-game surge has helped Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos claim one of the game’s most prestigious honours, the AFL Coaches’ Association Champion Player of the Year award, in a thrilling finish that saw the top three separated by just four votes.
Daicos finished on 117 coaches votes – the most since Dustin Martin (122) and Patrick Dangerfield (118) in 2017 – to narrowly pip Carlton’s Patrick Cripps (113) and Sydney’s Isaac Heeney (112).
Fremantle’s Caleb Serong (100) and Brisbane’s Lachie Neale (97) rounded out the star-studded top five.
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Daicos polled in 16 of the 24 matches he played this season, including maximum coaches votes in five rounds, to win the award, which was presented to him at the AFL Awards night.
The 21-year-old entered the penultimate home and away round with 99 coaches votes — three behind then-leader Heeney — before voting across the final two rounds was withheld from the public.
Heeney, in fact, had extended his lead over the Magpie after Round 23, polling the maximum 10 votes for his three-goal, 22-disposal performance against Essendon. Daicos polled eight votes for his two-goal, 25-disposal outing against the Lions, but trailed Heeney by five votes heading into the final round.
But the decision to withdraw Heeney an hour before the Swans’ Round 24 clash against Adelaide ultimately could’ve cost the Sydney star the Coaches’ award.
With Heeney sidelined, Daicos produced one of his finest games for the year in Collingwood’s win over Melbourne, kicking two goals from 40 disposals and 10 inside 50s to poll a perfect 10 from the coaches, which put him five ahead of Heeney.
Cripps, who sat fourth on the leaderboard with 95 votes after Round 22, polled 18 votes across the final two rounds – 10 against West Coast and eight against St Kilda – to usurp Heeney on the table. But even if he’d polled 10 against the Saints, it wouldn’t have been enough to overtake Daicos, who last year won the AFLCA’s Best Young Player Award.
“Nick is such an important player for us and at only 21 years of age is setting high standards for our football program and reaping the individual and team rewards because of it,” Collingwood coach Craig McRae said.
“You don’t have to be a Collingwood person to admire the work and football skill of this young man
Daicos produces a quarter for the ages | 01:01
“It’s pleasing for all 18 clubs to recognise and celebrate his efforts – congratulations, mate.”
AFLCA chief executive Alister Nicholson said Daicos was a deserving winner.
“Nick has had an unbelievably impressive first three seasons of AFL,” Nicholson said.
“He should be honoured to be recognised by the coaches as the 2024 AFL Coaches Association Champion Player. We believe this to be the most prestigious of Awards in the AFL, the 18 coaching groups have a unique view on our game and allocate their votes with care and consideration.”
Serong, who was equal-second with Daicos after Round 22, polled just one vote from the final two games.
All coaches vote on the award using a 5-4-3-2-1 system after each home and away game.
Meanwhile, North Melbourne star Harry Sheezel was further recognised for his outstanding start to his AFL career by being named Best Young Player — an award that recognises players based on performances across their first two AFL seasons and is determined by the weekly coaches votes.
Sheezel wins Best Young Player of 2024 | 01:47
Sheezel, who won the 2023 Rising Star award and was named in the 2024 All-Australian squad, polled 65 votes across his two seasons — well ahead of second-place Will Ashcroft (38 votes) from the Lions.
“After just two seasons, Harry has quickly earned the respect and admiration of everyone within our football club,” North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson said.
“His consistency has been outstanding and what’s fantastic to see is Harry’s impact on the game being recognised by opposition coaches across the league.”
2024 AFL COACHES’ ASSOCIATION CHAMPION PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD LEADERBOARD (every vote and full final leaderboard here)
1. Nick Daicos (Collingwood) – 117 votes
2. Patrick Cripps (Carlton) – 113
3. Isaac Heeney (Sydney) – 112
4. Caleb Serong (Fremantle) – 100
5. Lachie Neale (Brisbane Lions) – 97
6. Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs) – 93
7. Errol Gulden (Sydney Swans) – 86
=8. Zach Merrett (Essendon) and Chad Warner (Sydney Swans) – 80
10. Zak Butters (Port Adelaide) – 78
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