AFL News: Nick Daicos incident leaves fans angry as Collingwood teammate gets away with ugly act

Just one week after Craig McRae suggested Collingwood should get their luck together In the games at the MCG, the Magpies appeared to be handed some very favourable decisions at crucial moments against Brisbane on Saturday night, and nothing infuriated fans more than Nick Daicos being awarded a questionable free kick in the deep in the fourth quarter, while Steele Sidebottom got away with a blatant off-ball strike.

Collingwood retained its weak AFL Finals hopes are alive with a thrilling 11.13 (79) to 11.12 (78) victory at the MCG, but Brisbane fans were left angry at some refereeing decisions in the fourth quarter.

In fact, the Lions received the majority of 50/50 whistles in the first half and were awarded the first seven free kicks of the game. But the tables turned in the second half and the Magpies received the meager whistles in the fourth quarter that helped them overcome a 31-point deficit.

Collingwood kicked one of its goals early in the fourth quarter after a free kick went too late against the Lions as it hit Daicos. Commentating for Fox Footy, Melbourne great Garry Lyon branded the free kick “soft” while many felt it was not too late to warrant a penalty.

The situation infuriated Lions fans, especially given that they should have been awarded a goal on the second kick when Sidebottom tackled Cam Rayner after he had taken an behind shot. Rayner was unable to convert his shot, but as he bent down to adjust his boot, he was knocked to the ground by a punch from Sidebottom.

The umpires have penalised Sidebottom's action several times this year and could have given Rayner a second shot on goal. But the next umpire seemed to be looking elsewhere in this case when Sidebottom hit Rayner and the Collingwood veteran got away scot-free.

The new refereeing controversy comes after Collingwood coach McRae complained about late call that went against his side in their loss to Sydney last week and said his team would have gotten the call if the game had been played at the MCG. He probably didn't realise it at the time, but McRae essentially admitted his team has a big advantage playing at home.

“I'm allowed to be disappointed, because who wouldn't be? It shows that I care,” he said later. “But being frustrated was a bit selfish in my opinion, so I think about those things. But I don't want to take back things that I've done, because they're all good lessons for us and especially for me.”

On Saturday night, McRae said he would one day tell his grandchildren he coached Daicos after the AFL superstar's extraordinary second quarter helped Collingwood to victory. The Magpies pulled off a trademark coup with the game's final three goals, inflicting more pain on the Lions, who they beat by four points in last year's epic final.

RELATED:

Brisbane led the entire match on Saturday night until Beau McCreery scored the winning goal in the 29th minute of the final quarter. Daicos produced one of the best quarters ever, kicking two goals and collecting 13 possessions in the second period to get the Magpies back into the game.

“Wow, I think I'll tell my grandkids that I coached Nick Daicos,” Magpies coach McRae said. “That will be one of the best stories when I'm older. What a player. It's just nice to see someone come through in the game. We're all sitting on the bench, not laughing, just saying 'Wow!'. We're all in awe. We're front row at the Nick Show and he's a remarkable player.”

with AAP