King: Daicos can reach Gary Ablett levels

Pundit David King has suggested that Collingwood should consider deploying Nick Daicos more frequently in the forward line to address the team's persistent scoring issues. King drew a bold comparison, stating that Daicos could reach 'Gary Ablett levels' if his role is strategically expanded. This idea gained traction after Daicos' dominant performance in the final quarter against Carlton, where he showcased his ability to impact the game significantly when playing closer to goal.

King emphasized that Collingwood's offense has struggled to consistently post high scores, making it crucial to maximize the impact of their star player. He suggested a midfield-forward split, potentially 50-50, could unlock Daicos' full potential and create more scoring opportunities. Leigh Montagna agreed, drawing parallels to how Richmond utilized Dustin Martin and Melbourne used Christian Petracca, advocating for a role that keeps Daicos forward of center.

While acknowledging Daicos' midfield contributions, King argued that other players could fill that role, freeing up Daicos to make a more decisive impact in attack. Montagna also noted that Daicos himself expressed a desire to improve his goal-kicking, aiming to emulate players like Isaac Heeney and Marcus Bontempelli. The proposal is for coach Craig McRae to experiment with this tactical shift over a six-to-eight-week period, given the team has little to lose.