Come for the rivalry, stay for the Nick Daicos masterclass.

It was the best individual quarter of the year and probably the best quarter of Daicos' career.

Thirteen touches, two goal assists, one goal, three centre clearances and two tackles to get the Pies home by five points after trailing by 18 at the last change.

Somehow that statsline still undersells his majesty in the last quarter. 

It was the sort of individual monopoly usually reserved for NBA games - not on an AFL field where winning demands 23 contributions. 

The juxtaposition between his skill in the last quarter and the overall standard of the first three terms was the sort of thing you'd expect to see if a former AFL player is forced to play local reserves footy.

At the last change, fans were left wishing the much talked about Friday night double header was instead on Thursday to give them another footy game to tune into, so ugly was the contest.

Daicos, who won the Richard Pratt Medal in the Peter Mac Cup game, ensured everyone got something for investing their time and he had cause for celebration after 100 games glittered with accolades - and littered with some near misses too. 

We've outlined 10 of his best moments from a dazzling last quarter.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 16: Nick Daicos of the Magpies celebrates during the 2026 AFL Round 06 match between the Carlton Blues and the Collingwood Magpies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 16, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 16: Nick Daicos of the Magpies celebrates during the 2026 AFL Round 06 match between the Carlton Blues and the Collingwood Magpies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 16, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

9No space, no problem

Ball control and spatial awareness in spades.

Ruck Oscar Steene tapped it in the Daicos direction. After a dominant start to the quarter, Sam Walsh applied body contact and held his arm as the ball came in Daicos' direction.

He used his right hand to manoeuvre the ball from above his head down onto his foot with one controlled tap, and snapped it 40 metres around his body to win another centre clearance and send it inside 50.

It ended in the hands of Patrick Lipinski, whose shot was touched on the line, but that behind put the Pies in front in what was the final lead change of the night.

JOIN THE DISCUSSION