Retrospective: Peter Daicos.

[droversdog65]

My friends whilst sitting in the stifling heat of a northern Melbourne evening I've been thinking back on my 50+ years of supporting the mighty Pies and one man stands head and shoulders above the rest.

I'm talking about the imcomperable DAIC'S of course!

I saw his first game (with my Macedonian girlfriend) right through to his last and no player in my memory has had the lasting impact on players, club and supporters as did the marvel.

Much of his highlight reel now is those freakish goals - torps that seemed to sail on forever and those mesmerizing bouncing goals on the run. But his career started upfield where he regularly had opponents scratching their heads in wonder and opposition coaches tearing their hair out in despair of matching his awesome skillset.

Many who have seen Daics play recall with awe his outside of the foot running goal running in from the pocket in the '90 GF that got us some momentum but for me it come a bit further back than that.

I don't recall the team and just can't find the clip at the moment but he was playing forward and in the right forward pocket and had just taken posession of the ball when tackled and slung by the gurnsey toward the boundary.

Now here is the awesome part - for me at least . . .

Whilst being slung sideways he looked down and angled the ball then proceeded to slide it off the outside of his right foot whilst careening sideways and away from the goal.

It sailed right through the middle of course . . . that is the dominant memory of the master for me.

Some stats and a bio for those of you with a taste for such below . . .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Daicos

http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/P/Peter_Daicos.html

[Bruce Gonsalves]

That goal was at Viccy Park against Richmond and the opponent was, I think Terry Keays.

[Bob Sugar]

[droversdog65]

Yep think you are right Bruce and assuredly he did kick a few others similar Defender. Never seen a better balanced footballer but many now don't understand that he was a very good mark as well. Particularly once the stress fractures in his feet sent him to the forward line.

[droversdog65]

Another strong memory was of 'Captain Blood' (Jack Dyer) - the ex Richmond ruckman leading the pack of morons (I believe Sam Newman was in the pack) bleating that his sharply angled outside of the boot bouncing buzz bomb goals were simply luck.

If I recall accurately Daics did an interview and in his quietly spoken ironic way said - and I quote . . .
"You know its funny . . . the more I practice the luckier I get".

LOL

[Mossi]

Diacs while playing in the centre back in the early 80's had a brilliant 3rd quarter against top of the ladder North kicking 6 goals!! Yes Six goals in a quarter playing centre!! North players couldn't put a hand on the marvel. He just weaved spun and walked through the North players. They double teamed him and used a physical tag in the last quarter! That was the most amazing bit of play I have ever seen! Not even Ablett has that sort of ability!

[Bob Sugar]

Let's hope his sons are a chip off the ole block.

[Skids]

Simply the best!

[ronrat]

Never will see a better reader of the play. Also an incredible sense of where his feet where. Hard to say where he would play today but I would think the perfect foil for Travis. With the umpires watching for scrags would kick a 100 easy. Also had a magnificent torpedo that would sail through post high from 60 metres. I loved Greening but Daicos was my second favourite and what pisses me off is that bastard O Dea stopped Greening feeding to Dakes in his early career.

[BazBoy]

Peter Daicos Academy tutoring the next generation of father/son prospects assisted by
another sleek mover and excellent user of the Sherrin Barry "Bubba"Price
Would hope that would be fruitfull

[GreekLunatic]

Its funny how ever thinks daics was a great foward pocket well he was but if his didnt have feet problems i reckon he would have gone down as the greatest centreman of all time.

[BazBoy]

Daicos and Greening alike in their balance --they had the abilty to work if needed thru traffic without loosing that balance
And with an uncanny ability to read the play were a pair of absolute champions

[droversdog65]

Greek nail, hammer, head.

[droversdog65]

barry if John had of had a chance with a good injury run I believe he could have eclipsed Daics - he was just that little bit more physically imposing - but nonetheless, as you say a pair of thundergods.

[What'sinaname]

Most amazing player I have ever seen. His ability to put his body in position to out mark an opponent (usually one handed) was just freaky.