Josh Daicos wins the Collingwood best and fairest.
Josh Daicos has earned bragging rights over his brother after finishing a sparkling season with Collingwood’s first Copeland Trophy win.
The All-Australian pair were neck-and-neck for the majority of the count before the elder Daicos surged ahead of Nick after his knee fracture in round 21, gaining the coveted title of best and fairest in a premiership season.
The winger was recognized for his career-high season, in which he appeared in all 27 games and scored 16 goals while averaging 25 disposals per game.
Since Brodie Grundy in 2018, Daicos, 24, has been the Magpies’ youngest best and fairest winner.
Brayden Maynard tied for second place with Nick Daicos, only four votes ahead of first-year Magpie Tom Mitchell, who polled impressively despite a form slip in July that saw him twice selected as a sub in the second half of the season.
Mitchell said on Friday that despite being pushed out of the starting 22, he never felt his place in the team was in risk.
“It’s something that I feel as though I’ve dealt with my whole career … externally I’ve probably never been rated, and that’s fine, it hasn’t really bothered me,” he was quoted as saying by AFL Trade Radio.
“This year was always about being a selfless player and buying into that, and to be able to go out there and perform in a finals series was all I really wanted to do.”
Five-time winner Scott Pendlebury rounded out the top five after another outstanding season, with the veteran and his teammates Isaac Quaynor, Jack Crisp, and Brody Mihocek’s injury-free seasons leaving All-Australian centre half-back Darcy Moore and star midfielder Jordan De Goey on the outside looking in despite dominant seasons.
Jakob Ryan, a one-game defender, was voted the Magpies’ finest first-year player, while Maynard earned the Darren Millane Memorial Trophy as top clubman for the second year in a row.
Beau McCreery won the Gavin Brown award for best defensive player, while Collingwood’s best finals performer was Jack Crisp.
COPELAND TROPHY TOP 10
1. Josh Daicos (301 votes)
2. Nick Daicos and Brayden Maynard (287)
4. Tom Mitchell (283)
5. Scott Pendlebury (282)
6. Isaac Quaynor (267)
7. Jack Crisp (258)
8. Brody Mihocek (254)
9. Darcy Moore (253)
10. Jordan De Goey (249)
Other Award Winners:
Gordon Coventry Award – Leading goalkicker – Brody Mihocek
Harry Collier Trophy – Best first-year player – Jakob Ryan
Darren Millane Memorial Trophy – Best clubman – Brayden Maynard
Gavin Brown Award – Defensive pressure – Beau McCreery
Bob Rose Award – Best player in finals – Jack Crisp
Simon Prestigiacomo Side-by-Side Award – Josh Fraser
Jack Hellier Award – (Best VFL clubman) – Lachlan Tardrew
Joseph Wren Trophy – (VFL best and fairest) – Campbell Hustwaite
