Magpies coach says tagging of Daicos a non-issue

The tagging of Nick Daicos is a non-story, says Collingwood coach Craig McRae.

But rival AFL clubs are certain to thumb through Adelaide's playbook.

The Crows put the clamps on the Brownlow Medal favourite yet still lost to the Pies - by one point in a Sunday thriller.

Daicos' statistics read solid enough: 26 disposals, four clearances.

But the total was a season-low, 71 per cent of his possessions were in defence, he had just two score involvements and logged a disposal efficiency rate of 56 per cent.

By the second-year sensation's lofty standards, Daicos was subdued by Adelaide's Ben Keays, whose 12 disposals including four inside 50s and two score assists.

McRae has openly wondered why opposing teams haven't tagged Daicos before.

But after one club did, he tried to shut the book.

"Nick is a bit of a non-story from the game, to be honest," McRae said.

"It's a reality of a young man at the top of his game right now, the opposition want to take that away.

"He is a great strength of ours and we have got method in different ways to support him around that."

Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks said his team won the battle, but lost the so-called war when becoming the latest club overwhelmed by a last-term Collingwood surge.

"Really pleased with the way Keaysy went about," Nicks said.

"He is a super player, Nick Daicos, and in the end he impacted the game.

"But Keaysy, we knew he would have a good go at it and we made them change some things up in that space, so pleased with the way that played out.

"But ultimately it didn't quite get it done for us."

With Nick Daicos relatively quiet, his brother Josh took the limelight, collecting a match-high 31 disposals and kicking a vital goal in the last quarter.

Josh's strike came as the Magpies kicked the last three goals of the game.

Veteran Steele Sidebottom then registered the last score, a match-winning behind with 25 seconds left - the first time the Magpies held a lead the entire game.

Collingwood have now won nine of their last dozen games when trailing at three quarter-time.