Just to be clear I'm not against him as an option, I just think there is downside to this.
He doesn't even have to be tagged, he got almost zero attention the other day, teams just have to be more aware of him than the Cats were. Put even a little bit of physical pressure on him with his running, for example. I just can't see there's anyway teams are going to allow him to run around and notch up all these recieves 30 + times a game. If they do, they're just telling you they don't think he's worth the effort.
As Impromptu said, its a reasonably safe pick, especially when you factor in the ownership which is climbing towards half of the competition, so its also a defensive selection. Not owning him could really hurt us who don't have, but I'm betting other AFL teams are looking at this and thinking: "we aren't going to allow it." This was my read in the preseason and after only one game I don't really have a reason to change it as yet.
Port have already openly said today that they planning on tagging him :-
Port Adelaide will “look at all the options” to try and stop Collingwood young star Nick Daicos, Power defensive coach Nathan Bassett says.
The Power and Collingwood face each other at the MCG on Saturday in a tantalising clash of the two teams who arguably impressed the most in Round 1.
After his outstanding debut season in the AFL, in which he comfortably claimed the Rising Star,
Daicos hit the ground running in the first game of his second year against Geelong with 35 disposals and over 500m gained.
Despite it being a pre-season game Hawthorn deployed a tag on the young star.
Bassett said the Power had been discussing how to quell Daicos’ influence on Saturday.
“We have just been having that discussion,” he said.
“Cause he is interesting in the way he plays, he certainly runs hard and hunts that footy.
“He is a super talented player and as good for his age as anyone in the competition.
“It will be a challenge.”
The Power have rarely gone with a tag from the outset in games but Bassett said that could be on the cards.
“I think we look at all the options, what is the best way to minimise his strengths and potentially expose his weaknesses.
“So we will look at all the options.
“If we think the positives will outweigh the negatives and we think we have someone to do it.”
The Power have used Willem Drew as a tagger in the past, while Lachie Jones might also be one to do a defensive job.
Like the Power, the Pies were extremely impressive in victory in Round 1 with the fast style of footy blowing the Cats away.