Collingwood brothers Josh and Nick Daicos warmed the hearts of AFL fans across the nation when they scattered their grandfather’s ashes on the MCG moments after beating reigning premiers Geelong on Friday.
In highly emotional scenes, Nick, 20, took off his boot, grabbed the ashes and kissed his hand and the rose petals that he had stashed in his shoes before touching the turf of the famous ground.
Moments later, his older brother, Josh, 24, followed suit.
‘Just having a look at the Daicos boys…it’s obviously personal,’ James Brayshaw said in commentary for Channel 7.
‘[What a] special night for the Daicos family.’
Collingwood’s Josh Daicos shakes his grandfather’s ashes from his boot in the middle of the MCG on Friday
In highly emotional scenes, Nick Daicos also took off his boot, grabbed the ashes that were in it, then kissed his hand before touching the hallowed turf of the famous ground
Peter Daicos got around the whole team after tonight’s win ???? pic.twitter.com/gkh9bvLsYq
— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) March 17, info slot gacor hari ini (cip4d.site) 2023
The touching scenes continued in the Magpies sheds as Peter Daicos, the father of the siblings – and a club great himself – embraced the players and reflected on what has been an emotional week for the family.
‘That was for my dad. That was for my dad, mate,’ Peter told Seven’s Brian Taylor as he touched his heart.
‘Tonight’s game was in honour of him for us,’ Nick added.
The funeral of Mr Daicos was held on Thursday, with the brothers missing the captain’s run ahead of the clash against the Cats so they could attend.
‘Unfortunately we had the passing of our dad’s dad, so it’s been a really tough week for the family,’ Josh Daicos said.
‘It’s been really tough for us but tonight [the win] made it all worth it.’
Nick (second from left) and Josh (third from left) celebrate the Pies’ come-from-behind win over premiers Geelong on Friday night
Club legend Peter Daicos – father of Nick and Josh – embraced Collingwood players in emotional dressing room scenes after the game
Footy great turned commentator Jordan Lewis was blown away by the brothers’ ability to play despite the tragic loss.
‘To not only deal with the passing of their grandfather and the emotion attached to that, the funeral yesterday, they would have been mentally and physically drained,’ he said.
‘When their mum and dad look at that, they must be absolutely proud of them – not just for the players that they are, but the young men that they’ve become,’ Magpies legend Nathan Buckley added.
The brothers both had outstanding games, with Josh racking up 27 possessions and Nick recording 35 disposals as he had a hand in nine of the Pies’ goals.
Scores of footy fans were impressed with the Daicos boys’ touching gesture.
‘I couldn’t love this more if I tried,’ one supporter tweeted.
Another said: ‘The best way to pay their respects to their grandfather was to play the games of their lives against the premiers and they did so.’
‘They did him proud. Couple of gems there, Pies fans,’ another wrote.
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