Promising signs as Daicos begins running drills less than a month on from knee injury

Collingwood’s Nick Daicos has begun running as he recovers from a hairline fracture in his knee.

The superstar did several run-throughs at Collingwood’s open training session on Sunday, 29 days after suffering the injury in Round 21.

Daicos wasn’t running at full speed but completed a set of different running drills that prompted Channel Nine’s Alicia Muling to state that the Magpie looked promising as he eyes a finals return.

“This is the first time we’ve seen him running out on Olympic Park, 29 days after fracturing his knee against Hawthorn.”

Will Nick Daicos be ready for the Magpies’ final against Melbourne? #9AFLSFS | Channel 9 pic.twitter.com/lvEFGqwVog

— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) September 3, 2023

At this stage Daicos is expected to return in week two or three of the finals – pending the result of the club’s Qualifying Final against Melbourne – but the player himself and coach Craig McRae haven’t entirely put a line through featuring on Thursday night.

Norm Smith Medallist Isaac Smith reacted to vision of Daicos training on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show where he offered an insight into whether or not he felt the youngster could return sooner than first thought.

“I have no idea or intel at Collingwood,” Smith said.

“But I wouldn’t think he’d be playing this Thursday night just looking at him.

“But he’s a splendid young player and you never know. This could be a down day for him, he could have trained hard yesterday and is just striding the legs (today).

“It’ll be interesting to see whether he gets up or not.”

While Daicos appears unlikely to play, the Magpies will be boosted by the return of Darcy Moore (hamstring), Nathan Murphy (back) and Beau McCreery (suspension) for their first final.

The Magpies and Demons kick off the 2023 finals series on Thursday night at the MCG.