Premiership-winning Collingwood wingman Josh Daicos fronted the media on Saturday during a fundraising event for Vision Australia, where he addressed his "joke" about the treatment of AFL players, as well as farewelling Taylor Adams to Sydney.
Daicos, along with multiple Magpies teammates, were at the Botanical Gardens supporting a Vision Australia event.
The 24-year-old, who won Collingwood's best-and-fairest award in a flag-winning year, assured his club's hunger to go again next season.
"You spend some time celebrating and enjoying that but [we're going to] get straight back to work and obviously [we] want to get that feeling again, so I'm sure, come Monday (at training), we'll hit the ground running," stated Daicos at the Botanical Gardens on Saturday afternoon, via Nine.
Daicos recently returned from a rejuvenating overseas venture to Europe, where he was accompanied by former Collingwood teammate Taylor Adams, among others.
The star wingman was quizzed about Adams' Olympic Park departure this off-season, noting it was "so unfortunate" to see the veteran walk out the door to the Sydney Swans.
Albeit, he maintained there was no bad blood of any kind from a Magpies perspective.
"He's (Adams) an amazing teammate and it's so unfortunate to see him go but we understand that it happens in football and we wish him all the best," Daicos said.
While abroad, Daicos spent time at Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham Hotspur, soaking in an eye-opening experience before returning home to prepare for the Pies' 2024 flag defence.
"I think there's so much you can pick up from the players; just their professionalism and the way they attack training," said Daicos, reminiscing about his Spurs tour.
However, upon his Australia return, a tongue-in-cheek comment Daicos made at a private luncheon about AFL players' treatment -- compared to that of the international footballers he'd just observed -- was heavily scrutinised in the days following.
"It was really disappointing that the joke I made (at the luncheon) got taken out of context. I should've probably read the room better and those who know me know how grateful I am to be in the position I am.
"It's sad to see the narrative be changed."
Daicos and the reigning premier Magpies return to home base on Monday to commence their pre-season proper.