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AAP
Sport
Oliver Caffrey

Prestigiacomo torn over Pies' No.35 jumper

It's unclear if Nick Daicos (l) will continue to wear the Magpies' No.35 post his debut AFL season. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Collingwood great Simon Prestigiacomo is torn about Nick Daicos permanently wearing the famous No.35 but is more certain about the Magpies' AFL premiership chances.

The former defender believes Collingwood can take all before them in this year's finals series and salute for the club's 16th VFL/AFL flag.

A key part of the Magpies' extraordinary rise up the ladder has been Daicos, who was last week unanimously crowned the Rising Star after a stunning debut season.

Daicos has taken the AFL by storm wearing the No.35 jumper, which has been handed over to Collingwood's top draft pick each year for more than a decade, but is best known for the heroics of his father, Peter.

The new tradition started after Prestigiacomo selflessly ruled himself out of the 2010 grand final due to injury.

The likes of Jamie Elliott, Brodie Grundy and Jordan De Goey have all worn the No.35 in their rookie seasons since Prestigiacomo's retirement in 2010.

After being crowned the AFL's best first-year player, Nick Daicos admitted he would love to continue wearing the same number.

"Until probably about a week ago, I didn't know if he actually wanted to keep the jumper and it's come out now he wants to," Prestigiacomo said at Victoria Park on Wednesday.

"I think if, and when, it does come up we'll discuss it and make the best choice.

"I guess we'll have those discussions in the coming months and where we land everyone will be happy."

Prestigiacomo admitted it had been a great honour to be rewarded in such fashion following his 233-game career.

"It's great to see the new guys come in and you probably pay attention to those guys a bit more," he said.

"We've had a few years where it didn't get worn, which is probably the negative side of it.

"But we've been lucky where we've had some pretty good draft picks that have worn it and played a lot of games in their first year."

Prestigiacomo, who still works at Collingwood in merchandising, has been thrilled by the Magpies securing a top-four spot and believes they can go deep in September.

"I think we can go all the way, that's the beauty of getting to the finals, you never know which way it might land," he said.

"It can happen very quickly so I've got no doubts the guys can go all the way."

The 44-year-old was speaking at Collingwood's spiritual home with AFLW star Chloe Molloy as the club unveiled a mural to honour female players and supporters in the Victoria Park change rooms.

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