Daicos wins coaches' Champion Player of the Year for 2026

Collingwood's Nick Daicos has been named the AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year for 2026, announced at the AFL awards night on 25 August. The award is voted by the 18 senior coaches across the home-and-away season. Daicos also holds the 2025 Leigh Matthews Trophy, the players' MVP — so peers and coaches agree.