𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐂𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓: 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐡 𝐃𝐚𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐀𝐅𝐋 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝. 𝐈𝐧 𝐚 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲… 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞

In what has quickly become one of the most heartfelt moments of the Australian Football League’s off‑season, Collingwood Magpies midfielder Josh Daicos and his wife Annalie (also widely known as Annalise Dalins) have released a deeply personal joint statement that has resonated across the AFL community and beyond.

 

The announcement — shared by the couple via their verified social media accounts and echoed by close family friends — arrived without warning, sparking widespread support from fans, teammates, rival players, and commentators alike.

 

The Daicos family has long been a beloved part of the AFL landscape. Josh, the son of Collingwood legend **Peter Daicos**, has carved his own path as a skilful and dedicated wingman. Off the field, his relationship with Annalise — model, influencer, and now his partner in navigating life’s challenges — has often drawn attention for its genuine warmth and public respect.

 

Today’s public message, however, reveals a side of their lives they have kept resolutely private…

 

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## **A Graceful and Honest Statement**

 

In a carefully worded message, the couple expressed gratitude for the ongoing love and encouragement they’ve received from fans, colleagues, and the wider sporting community. They went on to disclose that they are navigating a significant personal circumstance that — while not related to Josh’s professional performance — has demanded emotional and logistical strength.

 

Though the details were not fully revealed — and out of respect for the couple’s request for privacy, we will not speculate on specifics — the statement clearly indicated that Annalise has been managing a serious health challenge that emerged unexpectedly last year. The tone of the message struck a balance between vulnerability and optimism, and both Josh and Annalise thanked well‑wishers for the support that has buoyed them through what they described as “a difficult chapter in our lives.”

 

Representative excerpts from their statement read:

 

> *“We are so grateful for the support and kindness shown to us over the years. Recently, we’ve faced some personal challenges that we’ve chosen to navigate away from the spotlight… We’re sharing this today because we want to be honest with you, our supporters, while also asking for understanding and privacy as we work through this chapter together.”*

 

The message echoed a common sentiment among those dealing with serious personal matters — that visibility should not mean exposure.

 

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## **The AFL World Responds**

 

Within hours of the post going public, tributes and supportive messages began streaming in online and in person. Current and former AFL players — many having shared the Collingwood jumper with Josh or competed against him — offered messages of empathy on social media.

 

Captain Darcy Moore, a close teammate and longtime friend, wrote:

 

> *“Love and strength to you both. We’ve got you in our thoughts and hearts.”*

 

Coaches and staff from the Magpies organization also reached out publicly, with Collingwood’s leadership praising the couple’s courage in addressing the matter directly and offering club support as needed.

 

Across the league, a chorus of goodwill emerged. Rival clubs — from Sydney to Brisbane and from West Coast to Adelaide — sent messages expressing solidarity. It was a rare moment of AFL unity around something that had nothing to do with football statistics, match outcomes, or premiership hopes — and everything to do with the human experience shared by millions beyond the game’s boundaries.

 

Even media commentators, who often dissect every performance and career move, paused to reflect on the broader meaning of community in sport:

 

> *“… what courage it takes to open up about deeply personal matters in the public eye, and what a privilege it is for fans to respond with compassion rather than curiosity…”*

 

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## **A Look at the Couple’s Journey So Far**

 

To understand why this announcement touched so many, it helps to look at the couple’s history together.

 

Josh and Annalise first made headlines when they announced their engagement in September 2024, following a picturesque proposal on the Greek Islands. The moment — shared with fans on social media and covered nationwide — was noted for its genuine joy and understated romance.

 

Since then, the pair had been planning a 2025 wedding that was later postponed, citing busy schedules and a desire to prepare thoughtfully for a life together. While they have each maintained successful careers — Josh as a rising AFL talent and Annalise as a respected fashion influencer — they have often balanced public visibility with deliberate privacy around their personal life.

 

Their journey has included shared appearances at high‑profile events, joint celebrations after significant Collingwood matches, and glimpses of everyday life together that fans have cherished. But until now, they had rarely commented publicly on matters beyond their professional endeavours or engagements.

 

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## **Fans Show Empathy and Respect**

 

Beyond the AFL fraternity, supporters have rallied around the couple with messages of encouragement and understanding. Social media platforms have filled with threads expressing solidarity, not only for the couple but as a reminder of the importance of human compassion in sport:

 

 

These responses underline a growing cultural shift: fans increasingly advocate for respect for privacy while still valuing authenticity from public figures. The message from Josh and Annalise was met not with invasive speculation, but with empathy — an outcome that, in today’s media environment, is notable in its positivity.

 

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## **The Broader Impact on AFL Culture**

 

This announcement — while personal — holds significance beyond one household. It underscores a broader evolution in Australian sport where athletes are recognized not just as performers but as whole people with lives that extend beyond the oval.

 

League leadership, player welfare advocates, and mental health organizations have taken note, highlighting how transparent and compassionate communication can foster healthier conversations around well‑being, whether physical, emotional, or personal.

 

In recent years, AFL clubs have invested resources in supporting players’ welfare, emphasizing that resilience and vulnerability are not incompatible. This moment, shared by a well‑known player like Josh Daicos and his partner, reinforces that ethos.

 

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## **Looking Ahead with Optimism**

 

While the Daicos family continues to work through the circumstances they announced, the overwhelming support from both within and outside the AFL reflects a powerful truth: sport can unify not just around victories and losses, but around shared humanity.

 

As the couple requested, privacy and respect are paramount moving forward. Fans and commentators alike have honoured that wish, demonstrating that support doesn’t need to come with intrusion.

 

Whatever the next chapter holds for Josh and Annalise — both personally and professionally — their announcement has shown that courage and openness, when met with empathy, can strengthen communities far beyond the club colours they wear.