Coach asks the big Nick Daicos question as rival violates players' code
North Melbourne great David King has sensationally suggested St Kilda's Marcus Windhager violated the players' code during his tagging of Nick Daicos on Saturday night.
The Collingwood superstar shook off a determined tag and tore the Saints apart in the Magpies' 16.12 (108) to 11.8 (74) win at Marvel Stadium.
Footy pundits across the industry questioned if Windhager's niggling tactics crossed the line, but the situation took another turn after the game with St Kilda coach Ross Lyon asking the million dollar question about how umpires treat the Brownlow medal-fancy.
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The success of Melbourne's Ed Langdon last round understandably prompted the Saints to send proven stopper Windhager to Daicos' side right from the first bounce.
But Daicos was up to the challenge, kicking into gear physically and aerobically to ensure the Magpies went six points clear on top of the ladder.
He was kept under wraps in the first quarter but broke through in style during strong second, third and fourth quarters.
Daicos was crucial in Collingwood's third quarter burst – which collected three goals in two minutes – before hitting the scoreboard himself with only an inch of space in the last.
You can watch the cheap shots and knee incident in the video player above
He finished with 30 disposals, five clearances, nine inside 50s, nine score involvements and a goal.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Lyon questioned whether Daicos is umpired differently to others after two early free kicks went the Collingwood star's way.
Lyon saw both players 'have their moments' but was confused with some of the decisions judged against Windhager.
'Daicos had a fair bit of ball, a few entries, he moved around (and) I think we handled that,' Lyon said.
'We'll probably go early and look at some of those free kicks, I am not sure they're free kicks but I think we'll take that in and ask the question.
'Are there two sets of rules going around? I am not sure, am I allowed to say that?
'I think he's (Daicos) a great player, we know that, a great young player – at the end they (Collingwood) get the points and go, 'It didn't work'.
'When we were even and come from 20 points down, it's looking good, we say, 'It's working'. I like the theatre of it … I think it's great for the game, isn't it?'
It came after Collingwood coach Craig McRae shined a light on Windhager's looming Daicos assignment this week by questioning the 'value' of tagging.
King said on Fox Footy after the game Windhager had gone too far, saying the Saints star's behaviour was 'against the code'.
King's comments were made as Fox Footy showed clips of Daicos being pinched, pushed and smothered off the ball.
It was the sight of Windhager kneeing Daicos to the back of his legs late in the game that angered King the most.
'I think Craig McRae would be frustrated,' King said.
'In the last few weeks he's put it to the media in an attempt I think to get the umpire department to wise up. This is the sort of stuff that's going on. Little knees to the hamstring. I think that's too far.
'These sorts of things. Taggers will do anything to get under your skin. There's a little whack here. Just little things that are a step too far.'
King said he didn't like the treatment Daicos received at stoppages.
'The game owes these sorts of players some form protection,' he said.
'The umpires did take a stand early. They paid a free kick to a punch in the stomach 30 seconds into the game. I think perfect. Craig McRae's had a big win here.
'I still think our stars get held and contorted and twisted at stoppages.'
The Magpies are now more than a game clear of reigning premier Brisbane with last-placed West Coast next week.
Speaking after the game, McRae once again stressed the importance of protecting Daicos.
'I just said to Nick when he came off for the first break that we don't want him to fight the battles, we'll fight them for him,' he said.
'He didn't need to get caught up in the wrestle of that; the free kick against I am probably talking about.
'As a group, as a team, we want to look after him (and) we don't want him sitting there feeling like he's fighting his own battle.
'I feel like tonight as a collective, Nick's had 30 possessions, so you'd say his performance was pretty impactful and then the way we looked after Nick.'
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