Collingwood's secret talks over Peter Daicos ambassador role spark salary cap fears

Key facts

• Collingwood is discussing a paid ambassador role for Peter Daicos, father of stars Nick and Josh Daicos.
• Nick Daicos is contracted with Collingwood until 2029 but is a prime target for Tasmania's new team entering in 2028.
• Tasmania's concessions include money outside the salary cap for marquee recruits, potentially offering up to $2.5 million per season.
• AFL greats Nick Riewoldt and Kane Cornes slammed the ambassador idea as a way around the salary cap.
• Peter Daicos was remunerated after seeing his image on a billboard without prior notice before last year's best and fairest.
• Collingwood has discussed sending Peter Daicos to Adelaide for a dinner with coterie members and paying him a retainer.
• The Daicos parents left the 2023 best and fairest early after Nick failed to win the award.

The ambassador proposal and its critics

Collingwood is exploring a paid ambassador role for Peter Daicos, the father of star midfielders Nick and Josh Daicos, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from AFL greats Nick Riewoldt and Kane Cornes. They argue that such an arrangement could be used to circumvent the salary cap, allowing the Magpies to retain the Daicos brothers without counting the payments against player salaries. Riewoldt and Cornes emphatically shut down the suggestion on Monday night, with Cornes asking directly: “Is this a way around the salary cap?” Riewoldt replied: “That’s exactly what it is.” The debate has intensified as Tasmania prepares to enter the competition in 2028, with Nick Daicos seen as a prime target for the new team.

Behind closed doors at Collingwood

Caroline Wilson, speaking on Channel 7’s The Agenda Setters, revealed that conversations about looking after Peter Daicos have been taking place behind closed doors among senior Collingwood figures. She noted that the discussions predate the current controversy, with club chief Craig Kelly and Daicos management already exploring ways to involve Peter in club activities. Wilson described an incident last year before the best and fairest, when Peter Daicos saw his image on a massive billboard in a heritage jumper while driving through Melbourne. Unaware of the marketing campaign, he contacted the club and was “rightly remunerated” for the use of his likeness. The episode highlighted the delicate relationship between the Daicos family and the club.

The Tasmania threat and the salary cap loophole

The backdrop to the ambassador debate is Tasmania’s entry into the AFL in 2028, with the Devils granted unprecedented concessions, including money outside the salary cap for marquee recruits. Nick Daicos, contracted until 2029, could be offered a record-breaking deal worth up to $2.5 million per season to move to the Apple Isle. Collingwood’s ambassador role for Peter Daicos is seen by critics as a way to sweeten the deal for Nick and Josh to stay, effectively bypassing the salary cap. The AFL has been urged to rule out such a loophole, with Riewoldt and Cornes warning it would set a dangerous precedent for other clubs to exploit.

Peter Daicos's existing involvement and the family dynamic

Peter Daicos, a Collingwood legend in his own right, already serves as an informal ambassador for the club, having participated in sports nights and other events. Wilson noted that the family had been “travelling the country doing sporties” and that there had been discussions about sending Peter to Adelaide for a dinner with coterie members. The Daicos family’s relationship with Collingwood has been under scrutiny since last year’s best and fairest, when Nick Daicos was widely expected to win but lost to Darcy Cameron. His parents left the event before it concluded, a move that fueled speculation about tensions. The billboard incident added to the sense that the club had failed to communicate effectively with the family.

What comes next for Collingwood and the Daicos brothers

Collingwood faces a delicate balancing act: keeping the Daicos brothers happy while avoiding any perception of salary cap manipulation. The club must decide whether to formalize an ambassador role for Peter Daicos, a move that would likely face scrutiny from the AFL and other clubs. Nick Daicos remains the center of attention, with his long-term future at Collingwood uncertain despite his contract. The Tasmania Devils’ ability to offer a massive, cap-exempt deal could test his loyalty. For now, the debate over Peter Daicos’s role has pulled the family back into the spotlight, raising questions about how far clubs can go to retain star players without breaking the rules.

The bottom line

• Collingwood is considering a paid ambassador role for Peter Daicos to help retain his sons Nick and Josh, but critics say it would circumvent the salary cap.
• Nick Daicos is under contract until 2029 but could be lured by Tasmania’s record offer of up to $2.5 million per season starting in 2028.
• The Daicos family has had a strained relationship with Collingwood, highlighted by the billboard incident and their early exit from the 2023 best and fairest.
• AFL greats Nick Riewoldt and Kane Cornes have warned that the ambassador idea sets a dangerous precedent for salary cap exploitation.
• The AFL has been urged to rule out any loophole that would allow clubs to pay family members outside the salary cap.
• Collingwood’s internal discussions about Peter Daicos’s role reflect the broader challenge of keeping star players amid Tasmania’s entry into the league.