BREAKING!!!“I’m surprised and saddened anyone would have an issue with my Performance against western bulldogs”: Nick Daicos explains why he got suspended by the AFL

BREAKING!!! “I’m surprised and saddened anyone would have an issue with my performance against Western Bulldogs”: Nick Daicos explains why he got suspended by the AFL

 

In a shock twist that’s sent tremors through the AFL community, Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos has spoken out after receiving a one-match suspension from the AFL Tribunal

7 following the club’s intense clash with the Western Bulldogs last Friday night.

 

The 21-year-old, known for his silky skills and clean game, has been suspended for what the AFL described as “excessive verbal dissent” toward an umpire during the final minutes of the heated fourth quarter. According to the AFL’s official statement, Daicos was cited for “repeated unsportsmanlike conduct, including comments that undermined the authority of the officiating team.”

 

But Daicos, clearly stunned by the decision, wasn’t shy in voicing his disbelief during a press conference held at the Holden Centre earlier today.

 

> “I’m surprised and honestly saddened that anyone would have an issue with my performance,” Daicos said, holding back frustration. “I’ve always played with passion, and I wear the jumper with pride. If emotion in the heat of battle is now a crime, then I don’t know what we’re doing anymore.”

 

 

 

Sources close to the club say the flashpoint came in the dying moments of the game, with the Magpies trailing by just three points. Daicos, arguing for a holding-the-ball free kick that wasn’t paid, was captured on the umpire’s mic using what the league termed “aggressive tone and language that breached the AFL’s Respect for Umpires code.”

 

What makes the situation more controversial is that Daicos had just come off a stellar performance — 34 disposals, 2 goals, and a game-high 9 inside 50s. Pundits had already penciled him in for votes in the Brownlow count, but that may now be overshadowed by this off-field drama.

 

The reaction among fans has been divided. On social media, #FreeDaicos trended within hours of the news breaking. Some fans see the punishment as “an overreaction,” while others believe the AFL is right to maintain high standards of on-field conduct, even for stars like Nick.

 

AFL CEO Gill McLachlan, in a rare Saturday statement, said:

 

> “Nick Daicos is a fantastic ambassador for the game. But we also have a responsibility to ensure that all players, regardless of stature, uphold the values that make our game great.”

 

 

 

Collingwood Football Club has confirmed it will not appeal the decision, citing a desire to “move forward and focus on the team’s upcoming fixtures.” However, they expressed their support for Daicos in a statement, calling him “a passionate leader and exemplary young athlete.”

 

Daicos, who will now miss next week’s match against Essendon, closed his remarks with a quiet defiance:

 

> “I’ll take the suspension on the chin. But don’t expect me to stop playing with heart. That’s who I am. That’s who I’ve always been.”

 

 

 

Love him or loathe him, one thing’s certain — Nick Daicos remains one of the AFL’s most electrifying figures, on and off the field.