Pies president addresses ‘unfathomable’ Daicos-Tassie links; teammate’s cheeky Merrett gift after failed trade — AFL Daily

Collingwood’s president has weighed in on the Nick Daicos-Tasmania chatter.

Plus one of Zach Merrett’s teammates had a cheeky present waiting for the Bombers star when he returned to the club. MORE IN AFL DAILY.

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PIES PRESIDENT SAYS DAICOS TO TASSIE ‘UNFATHOMABLE’

Collingwood president says the idea of Nick Daicos moving to Tasmania is “unfathomable” despite the superstar’s links to the incoming

19th side.

Daicos’ management last week admitted it’d be “negligent” not to hold talks with the Devils, which are set to enter the AFL in 2028 and be given a $5 million sign-on bonus to attract rival players.

The Pies jet himself has said he’d be open to rival offers when he becomes a free agent after the 2029 season.

But Magpies president Barry Carp was optimistic that Daicos would stay committed to Collingwood long term.

Reflecting on his time growing up watching Collingwood play at Victoria Park, Carp described the Daicos family as “Collingwood royalty”

and that he’d “expect to continue to be that case.”

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Though Barry was reminded by broadcaster Gerard Whateley that the Ablett family is Geelong royalty, yet Gary Ablett Jnr sensationally departed for Gold Coast in a move that seemed “unfathomable.”

Asked if it’s “unfathomable” that Daicos could leave Collingwood for Tassie, Carp said on SEN radio: “I think it’s unfathomable.

“And I think from a members’ and fans’ perspective, yes, it’s unfathomable.”

A potential contract renegotiation aside, Carp emphasised that the club needed to continue putting a high-performance program in all facets around Daicos.

“We need to continue to make sure that we offer a program that is at the cutting edge. That is first and foremost an elite program that attracts and retains the best players,” he said.

“If we can continue to do that — both in terms of the infrastructure, the precinct (and) in terms of the data and AI and all those sorts of things — we will continue to retain and maintain our best players and attract great people to our club.

“Our club is about great people … as long as we continue to promote that, we’ll be in good shape.”

MERRETT TEAMMATE’S CHEEKY PRESENT AFTER FAILED TRADE

Jye Caldwell took a lighthearted approach to Zach Merrett returning to Essendon

A non-trade was arguably the biggest story of last October’s exchange window, with Merrett going back to the Bombers after Hawthorn was unable to satisfy them with a suitable deal.

And Caldwell had a cheeky Secret Santa present for Merrett when he returned to Tullamarine to “put a full stop” on the saga, as revealed by Essendon young gun Nate Caddy.

“We had a Secret Santa and everyone had to make presents and stuff. Jye thought it would be funny to get Jack Ginnivan, who’s one of (Caldwell’s) mates, to sign a jumper for him,” Nate Caddy told Seven.

“He gave it to Zach as a bit of a gag.

“That kind of put a full stop to it.”

Merrett stood down as captain ahead of the 2026 season with Andy McGrath stepping into the role.

Essendon opens its season against Hawthorn this Friday night.