Daicos family’s ‘coincidental’ Tassie trip; more backlash for controversial fixture — AFL Daily

A “pure coincidence?” The entire Daicos family are in Tassie this weekend in “extraordinary” timing.

Plus backlash from clubs towards Opening Round. MORE IN AFL DAILY.

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‘PURE COINCIDENCE’: DAICOS FAMILY’S ‘REMARKABLE’ TASSIE TRIP

The Daicos family are spending the weekend in Tasmania during the club’s much-awaited VFL debut in a “pure coincidence.”

AFL journalist Tom Morris reported the news on Saturday morning ahead of the Devils’ clash with Coburg in North Hobart.

“I had a text from someone down in Tasmania telling me, of all the weekends, the one family to be in Tasmania this weekend is the Daicos family,” Morris reported on SEN Crunch Time.

“Peter Daicos, Nick Daicos, Josh Daicos, their partners, the family are all down there on the very weekend that Tasmania is playing against Coburg in their VFL debut.

“11,000 people expected in North Hobart, it’s a sellout. 400 of them coming from Coburg … the timing is quite remarkable.”

It comes amid ongoing links between Daicos and Tasmania ahead of the 19th club’s entry in the AFL in 2028.

Morris added that the son of a gun, contracted at Collingwood until 2029, is determined to continue playing for a winning team throughout his career and isn’t “blindly wedded” to the black and white.

“I’ll just say this; he loves Collingwood, we know that, that’s very much true. But do you know what he loves more than Collingwood? He loves winning,” he said.

“I don’t think that he is as blindly wedded to the Pies for the rest of his life as what maybe you’d imagine for someone with his surname.

“Rival clubs are aware of this; he is contracted until the end of 2029. Robbie D’Orazio, I’m sure has it all sorted behind the scenes.

“The Pies would sign him long term tomorrow if they could, but the fact that he and his family are in Tassie this weekend for a couple of cashies is just quite ridiculous timing.

“Pure coincidence, I’m told.”

CLUBS ESCALATE OPENING ROUND FRUSTRATIONS

Multiple clubs have vented frustration to the AFL’s top brass regarding Opening Round.

The Age reports it was a hot topic of discussion and clubs “forcefully expressed concern” with the concept when AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon met with CEOs from all 18 teams this week.

There’s believed to be potential for more clubs to be involved in Opening Round from next season including the possibility that all 18 clubs take part in the next two years.

The report also states that there’s a view within AFL headquarters that the ‘Round 0’ concept will continue to evolve, with ground availability a “crucial factor.”

Collingwood’s win over St Kilda at the MCG in this year’s fixture was the first time games have been played outside Sydney and Brisbane.

It also marked the first time the majority of clubs — 10 of the 18 — played in Opening Round after there were just eight teams — and four games — in the first two years it came in.

Opening Round was first launched 2024, with matches exclusively played in the northern states as part of the push to expand the game in those markets.

The season opening fixture has raised questions around the integrity of the competition after Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir ripped the “advantage” clubs that play in Opening Round get against less battle worn opponents the following week.

Meanwhile, Hawthorn’s 18-day break — just three games into its campaign — between Thursday night’s win over Sydney and Easter Monday has also sparked debate.