AFL Player #13: Nik Cox - Subbed out vs GCS

[Beerfish]

Contract Status: Out of contract 2024
My Boy Draft 2024: Pick 6, Rick Ross

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Except Laverde and Kelly are the two most physical defenders we have who actually defend…

Cox has to surpass Laverde, and he hasn’t yet done that.

If fit I think Reid will play ahead of Laverde anyway. Small sample but he actually looked like he was moving well on Friday, which is nice.

McKay, Ridley, McGrath, Redman and now Martin are locks.

Then we have Reid, Laverde, Cox and Kelly.

 

[Mikevk123]

I reckon he will come on eventually. Looks better in defence. Problem is I don’t think it will be with us.

We really should have got Dunkley when we had the chance. The 2020 draft looking back was a classic Dodo Masterclass. Picking 4 key defenders lol.

 

[Fayab99]

I reckon he will come on eventually. Looks better in defence. Problem is I don’t think it will be with us.

We really should have got Dunkley when we had the chance. The 2020 draft looking back was a classic Dodo Masterclass. Picking 4 key defenders lol.

Gee we are unlucky, Imagine if those 3 top 10 picks were A graders, we would be a completely different team.

 

[bennyg12]

To soft to come good zero effort...delist

 

[BrunoV]

I reckon he will come on eventually. Looks better in defence. Problem is I don’t think it will be with us.

We really should have got Dunkley when we had the chance. The 2020 draft looking back was a classic Dodo Masterclass. Picking 4 key defenders lol.

It was 4 players of key position height whose best footy was played as tall defenders.

You don't want to create the undue impression that we recruited a very limited range in types of player.



You also dont want to mention the recruitment of Weidemann, Baldwin or Hayes or the 2 year deals handed to BZT and Stewart all of which happened within 24 months of the 2020 draft.

 

[BrunoV]

Gee we are unlucky, Imagine if those 3 top 10 picks were A graders, we would be a completely different team.

Luck has nothing to do with it.

See above.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Couple of years old but this is not a bad read, as Blicavs is the closest thing to a template:

It's an all-round Blitz: Stats show Cat's amazing versatility

After mastering every position on the ground Mark Blicavs should be in All-Australian contention

www.afl.com.au

Couple of issues

- Blicavs, despite early doubts, is a genuine footballer. He attacks the contest with relish. This is Cox's biggest issue. He looks soft and laconic

- Blicavs has a footballer's body

- While Cox's running is very very good, Blicavs' was insane and on another level. There literally wasn't another player in the league who could go with him. I remember watching him in an early game in his career and he spent an entire half just sprinting from end to end to be an extra in attack and defence. Cox's running is good for his size, but I don't think he's anywhere near that level.

 

[yodellinhank]

The 2020 draft looking back was a classic Dodo Masterclass. Picking 4 key defenders lol.

Only to have to pay funny money to a free agent down the track.

 

[Epictetus]

Couple of years old but this is not a bad read, as Blicavs is the closest thing to a template:

It's an all-round Blitz: Stats show Cat's amazing versatility

After mastering every position on the ground Mark Blicavs should be in All-Australian contention

www.afl.com.au

Couple of issues

- Blicavs, despite early doubts, is a genuine footballer. He attacks the contest with relish. This is Cox's biggest issue. He looks soft and laconic

- Blicavs has a footballer's body

- While Cox's running is very very good, Blicavs' was insane and on another level. There literally wasn't another player in the league who could go with him. I remember watching him in an early game in his career and he spent an entire half just sprinting from end to end to be an extra in attack and defence. Cox's running is good for his size, but I don't think he's anywhere near that level.

I know Nic Cox's family a bit, so interesting thread.

But this point is important. Blicavs is probably the best runner to ever play the game at the highest level. It can't be understated how important this trait is to his game. It's inhuman, both in clip and relentlessness.

Nic has a few clear wrinkles in his game. Biggest is what he is. I hope they work it out soon.

 

[ghostdog]

I know Nic Cox's family a bit, so interesting thread.

But this point is important. Blicavs is probably the best runner to ever play the game at the highest level. It can't be understated how important this trait is to his game. It's inhuman, both in clip and relentlessness.

Nic has a few clear wrinkles in his game. Biggest is what he is. I hope they work it out soon.

What is the relevance of your first sentence to the rest of your post, though?

 

[D3K91]

Honestly, I think Cox's biggest issue is his lack of physical development.

Put Blicavs' muscle on him, and he's much more playable. He'd be tougher, as well, because he'd have some weight to throw around. I know Blicavs has said adding weight has affected his running, but it is what it is.

Bulk him up, get him to lift heavy and build muscle. It should be his #1 priority. The picture will look a lot clearer when he does. Key back who can pinch hit in the ruck, or at least he'll be tradeable.

 

[dank420_]

What is the relevance of your first sentence to the rest of your post, though?

There isn't any. Didn't think there had to be.

 

[Vindicater]

Think a parting of ways will be the best option at the end of the season. Hopefully with a fresh start and a club willing to lay him where he belongs we will see the best of Nik Cox.

 

[faible]

Think a parting of ways will be the best option at the end of the season. Hopefully with a fresh start and a club willing to lay him where he belongs we will see the best of Nik Cox.

I can see it now;

Essendon plays North in the 2029 GF.
Essendon star forward Nate Caddy has had a massive year, winning the Coleman, placing inside the top-10 at the Brownlow, and is odds-on favourite for the Norm Smith medal.
North send their star hard-running defender to blanket Caddy, holding him to a solitary point in a tight 5 point Grand Final win to North along with 23 disposals back the other way.

That defenders name is Nik Cox.

 

[Vander18]

Honestly, I think Cox's biggest issue is his lack of physical development.

Put Blicavs' muscle on him, and he's much more playable. He'd be tougher, as well, because he'd have some weight to throw around. I know Blicavs has said adding weight has affected his running, but it is what it is.

Bulk him up, get him to lift heavy and build muscle. It should be his #1 priority. The picture will look a lot clearer when he does. Key back who can pinch hit in the ruck, or at least he'll be tradeable.

Difference is Blicavs always had a big frame - big wide shoulders especially. So he carried the weight well. Went from best runner in AFL history by a mile to best runner in AFL history by a half mile whilst developing an AFL body.

My understanding is that Cox has already put on c.20kg….yet he still looks underdeveloped. He has narrow shoulders and a small frame. I am also unconvinced he has retained his running ability - I don’t think he’s the athlete he was in his first year with us.

 

[ant555]

It was 4 players of key position height whose best footy was played as tall defenders.

You don't want to create the undue impression that we recruited a very limited range in types of player.



You also dont want to mention the recruitment of Weidemann, Baldwin or Hayes or the 2 year deals handed to BZT and Stewart all of which happened within 24 months of the 2020 draft.

Eyre was 100% a forward when he was drafted. Weid was picked up as a back up forward / ruck. The position he actually played on Friday. Being no good is the issue. They did not go into the draft thinking oh well if he does not make it we will play him back. It has simply been the KPF we have picked up have been no good.

But hey keep bleating about the past. Not like it has not been done before. I think the club is actually restructuring the recruitment . Hell they even traded up to pick a player that fills a need last year.

 

[ant555]

Difference is Blicavs always had a big frame - big wide shoulders especially. So he carried the weight well. Went from best runner in AFL history by a mile to best runner in AFL history by a half mile whilst developing an AFL body.

My understanding is that Cox has already put on c.20kg….yet he still looks underdeveloped. He has narrow shoulders and a small frame. I am also unconvinced he has retained his running ability - I don’t think he’s the athlete he was in his first year with us.

Think you have gone overs on Cox. Drafted at 87kg and was 94kg at the start of last season. I suspect he is now around 99kg. But agree he does not have much of a frame. His running ability is okay . If you actually watch how much he runs around in circles you will see he covers a bit of ground. The issue is it is unproductive and he blows himself up. Not that I would say he is in Blicavs class as a runner. He is another level.
The biggest issue Cox has is IMO he is soft. He played some good footy early until sides started putting physical pressure on him.

 

[ant555]

I'd be more comfortable with another quick and agile small defender than going in with four talls. With Reid and McKay there, Ridley will be marking everything anyway.

What we lack back there is run and carry with speed. Hind doesn't do it as often or well as he used to, bulking up McGrath to play midfield has caused him to lose his, Redman can run when he gets on his bike but he's not a Saad/McKenna.

It's one of Cox or Ridley for me. We should be looking forward to Jayden Davey back there.

Depends who we play. Personally I think Cox has to prove he is not soft and he really wants it but if he finds his early form and the form he showed in his limited under 18 year he can rebound. Despite him being 200cm I do not consider him as a tall. We are playing Martin off half back to move the footy. It is not just speed. Also no point having speed if they have nothing to kick to which is why I have been going on about of pathetic ability to mark a contested footy down the line and leaving us exposed to sides running a 12 man midfield zone and strangling us to death.
We should be playing Davey forward as forward pressure is not our thing either.
McKay and Reid are both intercept marks along with Ridley. If we are intercepting a lot then the likes of Martin / Redman / McGrath can all run. McGrath still has pace. His problem is often trying to make something happen that is not there. Go back and watch last year and count how many times he ran himself into a road block by trying to create something that was not there.
I have massive doubts on Cox now but if he does pull the finger out then he is a massive point of difference. He is not just some 200cm bloke.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

I know Nic Cox's family a bit, so interesting thread.

But this point is important. Blicavs is probably the best runner to ever play the game at the highest level. It can't be understated how important this trait is to his game. It's inhuman, both in clip and relentlessness.

Nic has a few clear wrinkles in his game. Biggest is what he is. I hope they work it out soon.

Does Cox himself or those around him have any sense as to what position he is best suited to?

 

[fairbump_playon]

It was 4 players of key position height whose best footy was played as tall defenders.

You don't want to create the undue impression that we recruited a very limited range in types of player.



You also dont want to mention the recruitment of Weidemann, Baldwin or Hayes or the 2 year deals handed to BZT and Stewart all of which happened within 24 months of the 2020 draft.

Have you guys ever backed every horse in the Melbourne Cup just so you could boast at work that you backed the winner?

No, me neither, but Dodo has

 

[Vander18]

Think you have gone overs on Cox. Drafted at 87kg and was 94kg at the start of last season. I suspect he is now around 99kg. But agree he does not have much of a frame. His running ability is okay . If you actually watch how much he runs around in circles you will see he covers a bit of ground. The issue is it is unproductive and he blows himself up. Not that I would say he is in Blicavs class as a runner. He is another level.
The biggest issue Cox has is IMO he is soft. He played some good footy early until sides started putting physical pressure on him.

I wouldn’t have thought he was 87….if true is was a very sneaky 87! Anyway, this was as told to me by a guy with connections to the club. He was adamant that Cox has put on 20kg since arriving. Not looking to die on this particular hill however.

Agree with you that physicality is an issue. Hoping it’s just a confidence thing.

 

[Call Me Cake]

When people were claiming that he was a utility to the core at the start of his career I was immediately pretty wary, because the last thing I wanted was a player that was a jack of all trades but a master of none.

You think back to Goddard for example, even though he could play anywhere, he was still an elite defender on his worst day.

Of course that isn't to say that Cox should be an elite anything, but I think applying the utility tag on him before he had a chance to hold down a position may have played a part in his confidence withering away over time.

Hate being harsh on young players and ironically if he was injured the entire time instead of not being able to crack the side he probably would have been given a lot more leniency from the supporter base. Hopefully if the playing group evolves and becomes more stable maybe that'll give him a better chance to shine and feed off of them instead of being given a heavier task to work with like he usually is.

 

[citizen-erased]

Does Cox himself or those around him have any sense as to what position he is best suited to?

Nik himself said this time last year he sees himself a defender

deaf ears this has fallen on.

 

[fairbump_playon]

The path to success starts with him playing back, playing tough and then having a game where he takes a stack of great intercept marks. I agree he is comes across as soft but I suspect he’s a massive confidence player. Year one he was toast of the town on the wing. I just think he’s desperately in search of a breakout game down back.

 

[Vindicater]

Would love to play him back but then where would we play Heppell?