Track Watch: Daicos scare as superstar leaves track; Blues ‘surprise packet’ puts best foot forward

Nick Daicos reportedly had an injury scare at Collingwood’s main training on Friday.

Meanwhile, a third-year youngster was the “surprise packet” at Carlton’s session.

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A grimacing Daicos left the field at Olympic Park after some light movement drills, according to the Herald Sun’s Matthew Forrest, who reports Daicos “grabbed at his leg lightly” before leaving the field.

He did, however, return later to complete some basic straight-line running, “with no at-pace turning required”.

Daicos had begun the pre-season on a modified program, having dealt with plantar fasciitis.

The 23-year-old superstar was selected to represent Victoria in its Origin clash with Western Australia in Perth in late February.

But if the Magpies are concerned enough about Daicos’ health, they could opt to rule him out of the anticipated exhibition clash.

It comes as teammate and captain Darcy Moore returned to the fold in a rehab capacity while he nurses a calf strain.

Moore and veteran interceptor Jeremy Howe both fell victim to soft tissue injuries this pre-season, but while Moore made an appearance on Friday, Howe did not, according to observers.

Along with Moore in the rehab group were Dan McStay (hamstring), Isaac Quaynor (hamstring) and Beau McCreery (foot).

BLUES ‘SURPRISE PACKET’ AMID ‘JARRING’ ASPECT

Third-year Carlton rebounder Billy Wilson was the “surprise packet” of the Blues’ Friday session, according to Fox Footy analyst David King.

The two-time premiership Kangaroo said Wilson, 20, was “outstanding” across the half-backline.

“(He’s) exactly the type of player they require: speed, good decision-maker and kicked it a treat today,” King said via X.

The former second-round pick played just four games for Michael Voss’ side last season.

King, at Princes Park, also couldn’t help but note of the Blues: “It’s jarring how different their team looks”.

Ex-Swan Ollie Florent is part of that changed appearance, joining in the trade period and set to link up with Wilson to add some pace and precise kicking in counter-attack.

King added that Harry McKay and Nic Newman were away from the main group running laps.

Meanwhile, a changed interpretation of the maligned ‘stand’ rule is set to cause headaches this year.

Players must now stand if they are in the protected area — within five metres — when a mark or free kick occurs; a change made to prevent exploitation of the rule by drifting backwards off the mark to aid team defence.

Clubs are getting their first tastes of how umpires are going to clamp down on “any movement” once the umpire calls to stand the mark.

King took to X to explain why fans already against the ‘stand’ rule are in for more pain.

“If you hated the ‘Stand’ rule last year .... you’re going to be beside yourself in ‘26,” he wrote while observing Carlton training on Friday.

“Stand” means “stand”, any movement and the umpires are hot, hot, hot on the 50mt penalty.”

AFL umpires are at clubs in the pre-season assisting with the officiating of match simulations.

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