Pies standout Josh Daicos felt ‘ill’ after narrowly jeopardising brother Nick Daicos’ remarkable 100th game display.

Collingwood’s Josh Daicos has revealed he felt “a bit sick” after conceding a free kick in the closing seconds that nearly jeopardised his team’s victory on Thursday evening.

With just 15 seconds remaining and the Magpies ahead by six points against Carlton, Daicos inadvertently shoved Blues forward Talor Byrne to the ground during a stoppage, granting him a crucial shot at goal.

If Byrne had converted, the match would have ended in a draw, but he narrowly missed, allowing Collingwood to escape with a win.

It would have been particularly disheartening for Josh had Byrne found the net, especially considering it was also a milestone match for his brother, Nick Daicos, who reached his 100th game.

In a stunning performance, the star midfielder almost single-handedly sparked a Collingwood resurgence in the final quarter, amassing 13 disposals, securing three centre clearances, kicking a goal, and providing two goal assists.

He concluded the match with a staggering 39 disposals, 12 more than any other player on the field, as the Pies clawed back from a 23-point deficit.

However, had Byrne converted that goal, the result would have only ended in a draw, and it was Josh who inadvertently gave away the free kick.

“Looking back, I don’t even want to see the footage. Just talking about it makes me feel a bit sick because we worked so hard as a team, and for something like that to occur…,” Daicos told ABC Sport after the match.

“I should recall that he bumped me first, and I retaliated with a bump that took him down. It was a foolish move on my part. You really have to keep your composure in those situations. Players will try to earn free kicks from you; I’m not sure if there was much to it, but these days, it is a free kick.”

“I’m just glad he missed, and we came away with the four points.”

As the older brother, Josh expressed his admiration for Nick’s remarkable performance during the comeback.

“I never tire of discussing him. It’s been fantastic this week to reflect on his first 100 games. He’s like a human highlight reel, and when things got tough tonight, he really stepped up,” Daicos remarked.

“I love playing alongside him. It’s something I cherish, and I’m excited for the next 100 games together.”

Nick Daicos has made a sensational start to his career, earning accolades by finishing third, second, and second in the past three Brownlow Medal counts, in addition to being selected in all three All-Australian teams.

It took extraordinary polling from Patrick Cripps in 2024 and Matt Rowell in 2025 to surpass him, along with a late-season injury in 2023 that similarly affected his chances on Brownlow night.

Now, both he and Collingwood are gearing up for the upcoming Anzac Day clash with Essendon next Saturday.