Nick Daicos has emerged as the leading contender for this year’s Brownlow Medal.

And in the eyes of Ken Hinkley, it is now his to lose.

Since arriving at the Magpies in 2022 as a highly touted prospect, the 23-year-old has lived up to the hype and more.

In his fifth season in the league, Daicos has already won a premiership, a club best and fairest, three All-Australian selections, the Rising Star, alongside being voted the best player in the competition by the league’s coaches and players in 2024 and 2025 respectively.

But the one individual honour that has alluded him has been the Brownlow Medal.

It’s not from want of trying, with Daicos having finished in the top three in the last three vote counts, including having the highest vote count not to win the award in the 3-2-1 era in 2024 with 38.

However, 2026 appears to be the year that the father/son selection will finally break through to win the league’s best and fairest award.

Currently, he leads the competition in disposals (34.8 per game), second for inside 50s (6.8) as well as a career-best high in marks (4.6).

And following his performance against North Melbourne in their four-point win on Friday night, which saw Daicos amass 508 metres gained, 28 disposals, four clearances and a goal, the former Port Adelaide coach believes the medal is now a foregone conclusion.

“There was a moment in the game where the game just got separated by one player, and we all know who he is,” Hinkley said on SEN’s Crunch Time.

“We said last week, they've engraved the medal. Well, if they haven't, they should have engraved the medal, and Nick deserves to have the medal.

“I think he'll be about 15 votes clear now.”

This was a sentiment shared by Adelaide premiership captain Mark Bickley.

“He hasn't got too many taking votes off him,” he noted.

“Maybe his brother last night and Darcy Cameron, they were both very good, but he just stands out, doesn't he?

“When the game's there to be won, like even his goal in the end, he goes forward, he makes an impact and finds the footy in the front half.

“I think that's something that he's added a little bit to his game this year, even more so.

"He's kicked multiple goals on a number of occasions, and he wants the ball in his hands when the game is in the balance, and that is a great trait for great players to have.”

The Blues await Collingwood in Round 19 for a blockbuster clash at the MCG next Saturday night.

The match begins at 7:35pm AEST.