AFL Player 13: Nik Cox - cleared to return! - 11/11

[Beerfish]

Contract Status: Out of contract 2026
My Boy Draft 2024: Pick 6, Rick Ross

 

[Lore]

Strengthening program and running block for the troublesome ankle, then integrate into training

Similarly, utility Nik Cox is enjoying a carefully monitored build into pre-season as he strengthens the ankle joint that troubled him for much of last season. The former pick No.8 is progressing through a strong running block, and has begun a gradual integration into training.

Injury update: Star defenders make full recovery, new recruits to resume full training in coming weeks

A full pre-season report on the Bombers' injury list.

www.essendonfc.com.au

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

Definitely a lot more solid.

 

[astrowizzle]

Hes got nice skills for a big guy. I have faith he is going to end up being a bloody good player

 

[TheUnicorn]

Hes got nice skills for a big guy. I have faith he is going to end up being a bloody good player

3 AA's minimum

 

[faible]

3 AA's minimum

 

[Foxx]

When a player tells you who they are believe them. He’s a CHB, he played there all his junior’s and plays well in defense.

The only people who don’t know where he should play seem to be the people who thought Kyle Langford was a defender.

Should be the 3rd tall back there until his body develops. Pretty simple really

I think he'll end up taking Dyson Heppells role.
The taller intercept marking halfback.

Which will suit him perfectly.

 

[I Remember Bluey]

I think he'll end up taking Dyson Heppells role.
The taller intercept marking halfback.

Which will suit him perfectly.

 

[jdstorm]

I think he'll end up taking Dyson Heppells role.
The taller intercept marking halfback.

Which will suit him perfectly.

Maybe even stand him in the middle of the field so he can go to wherever the ball is coming from to have more interception options. Middle Halfback perhaps

 

[Milanista28]

200cm guy running 16km a game off wing half back is what I hope he becomes, and I think he can do that at a high standard

 

[Foxx]

200cm guy running 16km a game off wing half back is what I hope he becomes, and I think he can do that at a high standard

I think he lacks the urgency in his pace of play to spend too much time as a wingman.
Yes push up to the wings and forward at times, but his demeanour suits a taller backman role imo.

A good system is 3 key tall defenders to take the 3 opposition tall forwards.
2 attacking minded half backs (while of course also being accountable for their opponent), and 1 taller defensive minded taller half back who helps out the key backs in the air, as well as a reliable outlet for the attacking halfbacks and wings.

I don't see how we could afford one of our taller key backs or our taller halfback to roam 16km upfield. Maybe a game that the opposition doesn't have a tall forward unit.

 

[Milanista28]

I think he lacks the urgency in his pace of play to spend too much time as a wingman.
Yes push up to the wings and forward at times, but his demeanour suits a taller backman role imo.

A good system is 3 key tall defenders to take the 3 opposition tall forwards.
2 attacking minded half backs (while of course also being accountable for their opponent), and 1 taller defensive minded taller half back who helps out the key backs in the air, as well as a reliable outlet for the attacking halfbacks and wings.

I don't see how we could afford one of our taller key backs or our taller halfback to roam 16km upfield. Maybe a game that the opposition doesn't have a tall forward unit.

Happy for him to play at a good standard in any position tbf. But with McKay, Ridley, Lav, Reid, Baldwin and Hayes I think one of these talls can perform elsewhere, Cox might be that guy.

 

[Just A Tragic]

Give the kid a good stint in the VFL to find his feet, confidence and work out how best to play his role. If they don't know what that is exactly (like most on BF) all the more reason to do it in the VFL. No shame in that. He is unique, and that will come with added game plan IQ required to use his strengths and reduce his weakness. I think being found out in the seniors had a negative effect on his confidence and output.

 

[jannissary]

felt like he tried to emulate scott pendlebury

10

Scott Pendlebury

Age

37

Ht

191cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

26.5

5star

K

13.2

5star

HB

13.3

5star

M

4.1

4star

T

4.9

5star

CL

4.9

5star

D

25.1

5star

K

12.3

5star

HB

12.9

5star

M

3.4

3star

T

2.3

3star

CL

3.6

4star

D

12.4

4star

K

7.6

3star

HB

4.8

4star

M

5.8

5star

T

2.6

4star

this year - without the class or the execution that pendlebury has.

from memory he played slow (nothing wrong with that in a vacuum) but failing to hit easy targets/making mistakes was costly. big agree that he’ll need some urgency in his disposal otherwise he’ll be a wasted spot

 

[Godzke]

Hasn't got the lateral movement to play off half back.

If the below is our best back six ...

FB: McGrath McKay Laverde (R1) / Reid (mid-season)
HF: Heppell Ridley Redman

... then he'll be competing with Laverde/Reid, Kelly and Baldwin for back up KPD roles. May even be competing with Weideman down back.

 

[Keystone agony]

His best spot is the 3rd tall interceptor

His reach looks ridiculous and most of that deep play is slow play which suits him. Still think he can be ok a bit higher up across half back, just need to have another dynamic guy next to him which we have with Mcgrath, Hind Redman for the short- medium term and Davey for the longer term imo

Getting worried now with all these injuries

 

[Zach Package]

Seem to recall some complaining around him not heading over to Arizona but it seems the club have him on a specific program and he’s starting to see some benefit from it.

Similar to Reid, we’re building his body from the ground up with a view to him having a very good and very long career, the only difference with him and Reid is that he’s already proven he can really play.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Still NFI what he's going to be, if anything. Yeah I get he's athletic for his size but who knows what that translates to on an AFL ground against the best.

He played one season on the wing where he averaged 12 touches and 4 marks. He's missed the best part of the two seasons following.

Three years in and I get the feeling the club isn't much wiser on where we're headed with this bloke.

 

[faible]

Still NFI what he's going to be, if anything. Yeah I get he's athletic for his size but who knows what that translates to on an AFL ground against the best.

He played one season on the wing where he averaged 12 touches and 4 marks. He's missed the best part of the two seasons following.

Three years in and I get the feeling the club isn't much wiser on where we're headed with this bloke.

Nick Blakey style ultra tall half-back that can intercept mark and roam up the field?

 

[Call Me Cake]

It's funny how "he's a 'unicorn' and can play anywhere!" has turned into "where the hell do we even put this guy?"

 

[Foxx]

Nick Blakey style ultra tall half-back that can intercept mark and roam up the field?

Yep, Dyson Heppells role.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Nick Blakey style ultra tall half-back that can intercept mark and roam up the field?

Sure, but the fact he’s never played in the backline for us, nor taken many marks, nor shown a piercing kick (prob Blakey’s biggest weapon) would limit the comparison at this stage.

He does have shoulders, so that’s one thing he has on Blakey.

It's funny how "he's a 'unicorn' and can play anywhere!" has turned into "where the hell do we even put this guy?"

Was kinda always gonna be the case unfortunately. Bit of a “he can do anything!” Dodoro type. Yes Adrian, but what specifically?

 

[faible]

Sure, but the fact he’s never played in the backline for us, nor taken many marks, nor shown a piercing kick (prob Blakey’s biggest weapon) would limit the comparison at this stage.

He does have shoulders, so that’s one thing he has on Blakey.




Was kinda always gonna be the case unfortunately. Bit of a “he can do anything!” Dodoro type. Yes Adrian, but what specifically?

He played in the backline at the end of last season both in the VFL and AFL, and was a noted intercept mark there as an U18 according to the people who watched him.

He might play the role a little differently to Blakey (who's about an inch shorter than Cox) but that is roughly the position I'd guess at, and it's the spot Heppell played most of last season in.

 

[yodellinhank]

Just needs to sit at half back and not have an opponent, like the rest of the list.

 

[citizen-erased]

It's funny how "he's a 'unicorn' and can play anywhere!" has turned into "where the hell do we even put this guy?"

He's kinda always been that.
I still think chb.
Mckay - cox - baldwin as the taller options with ridley, redman and mcgrath rounding out the 6.
But as many point out, needs to really up the ante on his urgency, presence and awareness.

 

[Foxx]

It's funny how "he's a 'unicorn' and can play anywhere!" has turned into "where the hell do we even put this guy?"

Well up until this point in time, he's not looking like a Unicorn. He has deficiencies, which restrict him from being really good at any position.