To tag or not to tag? How Lions should tackle Daicos matchup

What does Brisbane do with Nick Daicos?

That must be the biggest question on Chris Fagan’s mind heading into Saturday’s Preliminary Final against Collingwood, according to Kane Cornes.

The Magpies superstar is the Brownlow favourite and was brilliant in Collingwood’s Qualifying Final win against Adelaide, kicking a great running goal while slicing up the Crows with his elite foot skills all night.

Daicos has faced Brisbane twice in 2025. Firstly, in Round 6, where he dominated with 38 disposals, one goal and eight clearances and secondly, in Round 21, where he kicked a goal and had 29 disposals but wasn’t as impactful.

Fagan opted to leave Daicos entirely alone in their first clash before switching Jarrod Berry onto him at half-time, with minimal impact. At the same time, the second time around, the Lions dominated at stoppage but didn’t go with a direct tag.

So, the question is, to tag, or not to tag? Cornes discussed the Daicos dilemma with his SEN Breakfast co-host David King as the duo tried to figure out Brisbane’s best course of action.

Cornes: “Nick Daicos, do they do anything with him? Is it Dunkley at stoppage and more of a team aspect across the ground?

“The Thursday night game they played in Brisbane earlier in the year, Daicos ran riot. They tried to expose him the other way, I thought, and get off him, that didn't work, it was a disaster, and they put Berry to him after half-time.”

King: “What would you do with Nick?”

Cornes: “I'd probably just take as much gas out of him as I possibly can, and that would be (Josh) Dunkley.

“Every time there's a stoppage, Dunkley's on him. He's a huge body, which does take some petrol tickets out of Nick.

“Then when he's off the ball, every time he runs past you, whack into him, knock him, don't let him get the easy ones around the back to get him going.

“But Dunkley's the one that can reliably go to him at stoppage and not let him get a hold of you from there and get his game going. That's what I would do.

“I understand it's not the ideal matchup, but I don't think there is an ideal matchup for Brisbane in their line-up.”

King: “He's a crowd puller, so when he gets the footy, he can draw a crowd coming in. They all panic about Nick. Three or four players will converge, and then he gets that ball to lesser-ranked players on the outside.

“I think that's the biggest challenge, not being all drawn in on Nick. Just trust that Dunkley can get it done or Berry can get it done. If he beats them, so be it.

“Don't give that next level of possession that's inside to out, then the game becomes easier (for everyone else).

“That's the challenge for me. You can't stop Nick. You really can't.”

Saturday’s Prelim between the Magpies and Lions is set for 5:15pm (AEST) at the MCG.