Collingwood premiership star Josh Daicos has spoken out at his critics after he came under fire over recent remarks.
Daicos was torn apart after he compared the conditions of professional athletes in the AFL compared to those in the English Premier League.
Stream Over 50 Sports Live & On-Demand with Kayo. Join now and start streaming instantly >
The 25-year-old said he was “quite flat” after seeing the world-class facilities of Premier League teams up close during a postseason trip to the UK.
“Going over to Europe and going to Tottenham, I saw the treatment they got, and I was quite flat about the treatment we get,” Daicos said.
“It’s quite amazing the disparity in wealth over there.
“They were telling me that when they are training, and obviously it’s quite cold when they play, they have heaters for the ground to make sure the ground is not frosted.
“So, we don’t get that sort of treatment.”
Those remarks drew the ire of fans far and wide who took aim at Daicos with 3AW host Tom Elliot scorching him on live radio.
But Daicos has fired back at critics following the wave of backlash and stated his comments were taken out of context.
“There’s so much you can pick up from the players, just their professionalism and the way they attack training,” he said.
“Ange was amazing, it was an absolute honour to be able to go over there and meet him.
“It was really disappointing that I think the joke I made got taken out of context. I should’ve probably read the room better.
“Those who know me know how grateful I am to be in the position I am.
“And that trip was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, one that I’ll always remember and it’s sad to see the narrative be changed.”
Daicos enjoyed a stellar season with Collingwood, helping them secure the premiership trophy before he claimed the club’s best and fairest award – edging out his brother Nick – to become the youngest winner of the award since Brodie Grundy in 2018.
But he’s been under constant attack throughout the off-season with his remarks copping the most heat, while a photo alongside Aussie Premier League manager Ange Postecoglou also got under the skin of Carlton fans.
Postecoglou showed his support for the Blues in September when they made a thrilling run into the preliminary finals.
Seeing him all chummy with a Collingwood player did not sit well with fans.
One fan on the official Reddit AFL group page said: “Poor form from a Carlton fan. Shame on u Ange”.
Another posted: “As a long suffering Blues and Spurs supporter, I don’t know how I should feel about this.”