Draft Prospects training at North: Nakia Cockatoo, Sean McLaren

[Pykie]

So, you guys would see Nakia as a decent first or early 20's pick (assuming we get something like that for Levi.. assuming he goes)?

Up until the combine I don't think I saw anyone particularly highlight him as a likely prospect.

He's an AIS member who's been injured for a lot of the year, out of sight out of mind.

He'd be a ripper pick with the Greenwood selection if he was still on the board, I'd probably still take him with 16 though.

 

[The Nostradamus]

I'd take Nakia with a 2nd rounder. Think there will be better options at our first pick.

Rate Sean mclaren also and would take him with our 3rd pick, solid KPP

 

[jclei]

He hasnt been rated in the top 20 in any phantom drafts but i have heard he would be a big gamble, big payoff type player. Could be worth a punt.

 

[Pykie]

Lever/Cockatoo combo, whilst risky, could pay off in big way.

 

[Tas]

I don't like Nokias. :stern look

 

[naturally north]

He hasnt been rated in the top 20 in any phantom drafts but i have heard he would be a big gamble, big payoff type player. Could be worth a punt.

I think with the FA's we've gotten over the last two seasons we can afford said punt.

 

[Hojuman]

Even worse would be Darcy Clayton son of Shane who we had to endure play 99 games for us, ends up being the new Carey

Shane Clayton....premiership player !

Sent from my C6903 using Tapatalk

 

[Ohhh Errol]

Just had to run amok didn't he.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Nakia is the type of player I see every year and go "Wow, would LOVE to see him at north, fits so well."

Invariably that player always goes 1-2 picks before ours.

 

[Heaps of fun]

Nakia is the type of player I see every year and go "Wow, would LOVE to see him at north, fits so well."

Invariably that player always goes 1-2 picks before ours.

This year's JKH.

 

[GS WARRIORS]

Would be very happy to pick him with our first.

 

[Ohhh Errol]

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2014 Draft Profile: Nakia Cockatoo
2014 Draft Profile: Nakia Cockatoo Posted by Luke McAlister on 1 October, 2014
Oct 012014

Nakia Cockatoo (Southern Districts/NT Thunder)
Height: 188 cm
Weight: 84 kg
Position: Utility
Strengths: Acceleration, athleticism, damage
Areas of improvement: Consistency
Player comparison: Patrick Dangerfield
The best prospect to come out of the Northern Territory this year, Nakia Cockatoo is an interesting utility who’s had his season destroyed by injuries. Missing the championships, Cockatoo hasn’t had much opportunity to prove his worth however his rare combination of height, strength and athleticism has allowed him to remain on many draft watchers’ radars. A very strong performance in the young guns’ game – a curtain raiser to the Grand Final – resulted in Nakia winning the medal for best on ground.

THE GOOD
A big bodied utility, Cockatoo excels across the ground. With his height he’s often been used in a key defensive or third tall role in the Northern Territory, as at 188 cm he’s one of the taller juniors in the Territory. In that role he’s performed admirably, using his acceleration and speed to close down leads and his size to maintain a physical presence.

Offensively he’s able to use his abilities to provide a rebounding and running option. He has particularly excelled when playing small in defence, with his unique mix of abilities allowing him to cover and beat most opponents.

Through the midfield Cockatoo has a nice balance between inside and outside game. Possessing elite acceleration and a fantastic top speed, if Cockatoo decides to attempt to win a ground ball, he’s hard to stop as he just gets there first.

The speed at which he hits a ball coupled with his imposing body allows him a real ability to win his own ball. Upon winning a ground ball Cockatoo’s breakaway speed is elite. He’s almost always able to burst clear of a contest or create space to dispose of the ball.
By foot Cockatoo is reliable, with his kicks often furthering the play and hitting targets. However he rarely penetrates and really breaks open the game by foot. Cockatoo is also capable of working into space and providing a marking presence. When forward Cockatoo has shown some ability as a lead up forward, with his pace allowing him some separation.

The knock on Cockatoo is that he hasn’t played a full season. It’s often hard to judge a player based on their underage year, especially when that underage year is in the Northern Territory. He spent a week with North Melbourne earlier in the year as part of the AIS-AFL Academy and from all reports they were impressed with his skills and attitude.

While by foot Cockatoo is reliable, he is prone to occasionally blindly long bombing instead of lowering the head. When under pressure Cockatoo occasionally shows a lack of composure as well. With ball in hand he is prone to blazing away without thinking about the situation and as such leaves himself prone to being run down. He just tries to do too much some times – one evasive move too many or one run too many. It’s something which can be ironed out at AFL level though.

The worry with how Cockatoo will translate to AFL level is in the role he’ll play. At the moment he’s a bit of a jack of all trades, master of none. While he is able to win his own ball, he doesn’t do it with enough regularity and consistency to be a genuine inside option yet.

On the outside he’s not a damaging enough kick or consistent enough accumulator to be a genuine outside option either and in defence some of the issues that affected James Gwilt are also likely to effect Cockatoo, with him being just a little too small to play the role he’s suited to.
If Nakia is to make it, he’s likely going to have to improve his inside game to a level where he can command a place on that alone or improve his foot skills so he’d be a genuine and damaging outside option for a side.


Cockatoo is someone who could impact in season one with his matured body and versatility however it will not be until season two or three when he really begins to impose himself.

There are several players he shares some similarities with – his ability to burst out of a contest and accelerate so rapidly is not dissimilar to Patrick Dangerfield, and he shares a similar type of body and tendency to blindly kick with him too. The way in which he influences games is not dissimilar to Dangerfield as well.
When in defence he’s similar to Shaun Atley in a few ways with his disciplined defending but genuine running ability similar. He also shares a few similarities with Daniel Wells but really, Cockatoo is a bit unique with the way he plays – it’s rare to have a player with his athleticism and size. His performance in the grand final curtain raiser was impressive enough to see his draft stocks rocket.

 

[Sugar2Sideshow]

So there go our chances of getting him with our second rounder?

 

[Ohhh Errol]

The bloke has a solid build, we've lacked that since drafting Ziebell. Seeing that we can afford to put a bit of development into him, those attributes above sound like a good fit for North. Sounds a bit like Firrito actually (anyone got gameday footage). Could be the long term replacement. And if Wright drops off again, it wouldn't be the worse thing to replace him with someone quick.

 

[Ohhh Errol]

So there go our chances of getting him with our second rounder?

could be the difference between pick 30 and 25 but i have nfi. If the club sees someone better with any of our picks then so be it, unless it's a slow inside mid but do we really need to even type that this year? Surely, surely we wont go down that path again?

 

[TwentyNine]

Nakia is the type of player I see every year and go "Wow, would LOVE to see him at north, fits so well."

Invariably that player always goes 1-2 picks before ours.

Lewis Taylor

 

[R00StaR]

could be the difference between pick 30 and 25 but i have nfi. If the club sees someone better with any of our picks then so be it, unless it's a slow inside mid but do we really need to even type that this year? Surely, surely we wont go down that path again?

So Cockatoo might be worth more than Levi (1.8M over 4 years) Greenwood?

Good attributes, hope we can get him but we should get more for Levi than pick 25.

 

[Hearts to hearts]

North and Nakia sounds like a match made in heaven.

Was Ziebell the last time we weren't surprised by our first round pick?

 

[Phillyroo]

If we get 25 for greenwood (not enough IMO) would we trade 25 and our current 2nd pick to move up to have 2 picks inside 20 to secure him,?

 

[year of the roo]

North and Nakia sounds like a match made in heaven.

Was Ziebell the last time we weren't surprised by our first round pick?

Cunnington.

 

[Deadeyeroo]

Id love to see Cockatoo at our club and wouldn't be against drafting him with our 1st pick, although if we do get a pick in the 20's hopefully we can get him for that pick and get the best available with our 1st. I'd like us to get Reece McKenzie too, I think this kid could be anything.

 

[justroyal]

I want to invest in this but I always get so damn disappointed!

 

[shinboner magic]

Get him with our first pick.
looks like he has the tools to be a top end players with some dynamic skills

 

[roos_fanatic08]

don't really understand the player comparison, from the little bit of footage I've seen he is nothing like Patrick Dangerfield.

 

[Souup]

Early mail is that we're super keen on Cockatoo with pick 16