Collingwood star Nick Daicos says he’s “never been happier” at the club despite recent reports he was “unwilling” to sign a new long-term deal as Tasmania loom large.
Daicos is contracted at the Magpies until the end of 2029 – but there’s reports he could earn up to $2.5 million per season should he become the Devils’ marquee man.
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Appearing on Fox Footy’s AFL360 on Tuesday night, Daicos said he was ‘really happy” at Collingwood despite his recent family trip to Tasmania that made AFL headlines over the weekend.
“I don’t have too many discussions with my manager about that sort of stuff,” he said of a potential Devils poach.
“He can talk to people like that as much as he wants … he can talk to them if Tassie want to drive that conversation.
“I’m really happy at Collingwood.
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“I’ve got another three years contracted – never been happier at the club.
“Even the way we’ve started the year … super exciting.
“My manager passes through any comments or things he thinks I might have to know – I haven’t heard anything (in regards to a Tasmania deal) which is good news.”
Daicos sent the AFL world into a frenzy when he and his family were pictured with Devils board director Roger Curtis.
But the 23-year-old played down the meeting.
“It was something we had planned a long time ago – in December,” he said.
“Planned to play a bit of golf over there, had a couple of engagements and then coincidentally the VFL were playing their first game so didn’t line up too well!
“It was nice to get over there.”
The comments come after Devils CEO Brendon Gale also played down the “coincidental” catch up.
“That’s Roger Curtis, he’s on our board, and his house is about three down the road from that coffee shop,” Gale said.
“He coincidentally ran into the Daicoses, and he happens to be a mad Collingwood fan.
“I don’t quite know why they’re here, but let me just say this: why wouldn’t they be here? This is an incredible place, it’s 25 degrees, there’s not a cloud in the sky, there’s golf, there’s fishing, there’s food, wine — it’s an incredible place.
“Why wouldn’t they be here?”
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Daicos remains a big Devils target, according to reports, given the club is set to have a $5 million sign-on bonus outside their salary cap to use over their first two seasons to attract big names.
But another name linked to a potential Tasmania deal is injured Giant Tom Green.
Green remains sidelined for the 2026 season after tearing his ACL pre-season, but has been linked to the new AFL club.
“He’s got time on his hands,” AFL 360 co-host Garry Lyon said.
GWS teammate Toby Greene said Tasmania would be “mad not to consider” Green.
“I’m not surprised that Tom’s talked about. But I’m pretty confident he’s going to be a Giant for life. A long-term player, a long-term captain of the footy club,” he said.
“I’m hoping he stays in Sydney for the long-term and Tassie can have those conversations. I don’t blame them at all!
“For the Giants sake and my sake, I hope he stays.”
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