The elements of Nick Daicos’ game that stand out to Collingwood great Pendlebury

Collingwood veteran Scott Pendlebury has detailed what he thinks makes his young teammate Nick Daicos so good.

The 2023 premiership teammates have a close bond on the field, often finding each other with handballs around congestion that only players of that calibre can even attempt.

Daicos, 21, is currently enjoying a purple patch and he dominated Sunday’s win over West Coast at Marvel Stadium with 36 disposals, one goal and seven clearances. Pendlebury himself was among Collingwood’s best with 28 disposals and five clearances.

While Daicos’ skill is obvious to see, Pendlebury thinks the thing that really makes the young player such a superstar already is his will to win and growing football IQ.

As other youngsters take time to find their feet at AFL level, Pendlebury says that the younger Daicos brother is already a key leader on-field with his footy smarts.

“I think for me, the thing that stands out is just how much he wants to win,” Pendlebury told SEN Breakfast.

“He's so competitive, he’s got a great football IQ.

“I know working really closely with him for a couple of years now and then even the last few weeks in the midfield together … just the way he can think through the game already as a third-year player is exceptional.

“A lot of young guys sort of think through the game about how they're going and through their own lens.

“Whereas he can see it from, ‘They’re doing this at centre bounce’, ‘I reckon we need to take this away from them’, or, ‘Crispy, we need you to get here’.

“He can already direct and see the game unfolding, he brings that level of intelligence to our team.”

Pendlebury also praised Daicos for being the ultimate team man who prefers to celebrate others achieving success than himself.

“But then he's just competitive,” Pendlebury said.

“I think there's a vision of him when Lachie Sullivan kicked his first goal going absolutely troppo on the bench and then he kicks the match winner, and he doesn't really give it too much.

“He's such a team guy. I love that he just wants to win, and he'll do whatever it takes.”

The Collingwood midfield duo will hope to continue their strong form when they face Adelaide at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.