Josh Daicos, a Collingwood Premiership player, has responded to his detractors after drawing criticism for some recent comments he made.
After he contrasted the circumstances of professional athletes in the AFL with those in the English Premier League, Daicos faced intense criticism.
After visiting the elite facilities of Premier League teams up close during a postseason trip to the UK, the 25-year-old admitted he was very flat.
After traveling to Tottenham in Europe and witnessing their treatment, Daicos claimed he was dissatisfied with the care we receive.
The wealth gap over there is rather astounding.
They explained to me that they had heaters for the ground to prevent frost during training—clearly, it gets rather chilly when they play.
Thus, we do not receive that kind of care.
Fans from all over the world took offense at Daicos’ comments, and 3AW anchor Tom Elliot chastised him on live radio in response.
However, Daicos retaliated against detractors after the outpouring of criticism, claiming his remarks were misinterpreted.
He stated that you can learn a great deal from the players, even only in terms of their professionalism and approach to training.
It was a true honor to be able to visit Ange; he was truly remarkable.
The fact that I believe my joke was taken out of context was incredibly upsetting. I ought to have taken a closer look at the room.
People who are familiar with me are aware of my gratitude for my current situation.
I will always cherish that trip as a once-in-a-lifetime experience; therefore, it saddens me to see the story altered.
After helping Collingwood win the championship, Daicos had a fantastic season. He then won the club’s best and fairest award, defeating his brother Nick to become the youngest winner since Brodie Grundy in 2018.
However, he has faced unrelenting criticism over the off-season, with his comments drawing the greatest ire. Additionally, Carlton supporters were offended by a photo of him with Australian Premier League boss Ange Postecoglou.
Postecoglou publicly backed the Blues during their remarkable run into the preliminary finals in September.
Fans took issue with him being so friendly with a Collingwood player.
One fan on the official Reddit AFL group page said, “Poor form from a Carlton fan. Shame on u Ange.
Another posted: I have been a longtime Blues and Spurs fan, so I am not sure how to feel about this.
