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

 

[ghostdog]

I also see Heppell's spot as the natural one for Cox. Needs to run more, but his marking ability and his vision can be excellent. Have another look at Cox against Sydney last year when he was starting to find his feet.

I've said elsewhere that I still think we need a Nick Watson type and another big mid to shadow the Setterfield role. Cox needs to perform this year because we can't play all of McKay, Lav, Ridley, Baldwin, Reid, Cox and Hayes in the same backline, and many think Reid and Hayes are coming. Someone in that list will be the trade bait to help us secure the high-value x-factor dynamic small forward we need.

 

[brain taylor]

Cox needs to perform this year because we can't play all of McKay, Lav, Ridley, Baldwin, Reid, Cox and Hayes in the same backline, and many think Reid and Hayes are coming. Someone in that list will be the trade bait to help us secure the high-value x-factor dynamic small forward we need.

have loved his revival as a backman but lav is the obvious one to be squeezed out, cox’s point of difference is that he’s basically a 2 metre flanker, so he fits in fine, and between mackay/baldwin/reid/hayes only two have managed to play meaningful amounts of afl footy, so i don’t think there’s anything to worry about there yet. i wouldn’t be recruiting more defenders but the depth is good for now.

 

[ant555]

I also see Heppell's spot as the natural one for Cox. Needs to run more, but his marking ability and his vision can be excellent. Have another look at Cox against Sydney last year when he was starting to find his feet.

I've said elsewhere that I still think we need a Nick Watson type and another big mid to shadow the Setterfield role. Cox needs to perform this year because we can't play all of McKay, Lav, Ridley, Baldwin, Reid, Cox and Hayes in the same backline, and many think Reid and Hayes are coming. Someone in that list will be the trade bait to help us secure the high-value x-factor dynamic small forward we need.

Who knows what is coming. Every year someone is saying we can not play x / y / z in the same side but it never works out that x / y / z end up all on the list.

 

[IggypopsTshirt]

On closer inspection that ain’t no unicorn.

 

[ghostdog]

Got panned by a track watcher on Blitz today.

Big_bodied_mid:
"Just looks so devoid of any confidence. Really not sure where he fits in. Lacked any impact in defensive drills, and played half back in the 3/4 ground short match play drill but had little influence. To me he almost hangs his head and looks a little defeated in contrast to his first year when he had so much confidence and swagger about him as a top 10 draftee. If it was me, I would play him in the VFL as a mobile CHF or HFF in the Jack Gunston

19

Jack Gunston

Age

34

Ht

193cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.5

4star

K

10.5

4star

HB

5.0

4star

M

5.7

5star

T

2.2

4star

G

1.9

5star

D

10.6

3star

K

8.0

3star

HB

2.6

2star

M

4.3

4star

T

1.7

3star

G

1.6

5star

D

11.2

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

4.2

4star

M

3.2

4star

T

2.6

4star

G

0.6

3star

style role and see if he can build his confidence that way. When I look at our defence if everyone fit you have McKay, Reid, Ridley, Laverde, who are all 193-205. You can’t add another 200cm in there and not be torn up by faster and smaller mobile forward lines like Collingwood, GWS and Carlton. To me there is no place for him in defence even though that’s I think where they are planning on settling him for the time being."

 

[dank420_]

Got panned by a track watcher on Blitz today.

copy paste bro

 

[ghostdog]

copy paste bro

Soz. Done.

 

[katana]

i really thought in his first handful of games that his confidence was a huge strength. wonder what the explanation is.

 

[citizen-erased]

i really thought in his first handful of games that his confidence was a huge strength. wonder what the explanation is.

injury and thrown about the place.
need to settle him.

 

[Vander18]

i really thought in his first handful of games that his confidence was a huge strength. wonder what the explanation is.

Suspect playing on a wing and being required to play a specific role within the structure was challenging form. Season 1 I suspect he just went out and played.Have been saying for a while - whatever we ask of him, make it simple so he can go out and "just play" while he regains confidence. Then build on that and and expand to more complex roles over time.

Hopefully he can do this long term..... talented guys exit the system these days if they can't play system based footy.

 

[citizen-erased]

Suspect playing on a wing and being required to play a specific role within the structure was challenging form. Season 1 I suspect he just went out and played.Have been saying for a while - whatever we ask of him, make it simple so he can go out and "just play" while he regains confidence. Then build on that and and expand to more complex roles over time.

Hopefully he can do this long term..... talented guys exit the system these days if they can't play system based footy.

early days he looked a natural (funnily enough as a HF)
might go back and find that hawks game, but he was throwing his weight around, getting reported, etc.

 

[ant555]

Got panned by a track watcher on Blitz today.

Big_bodied_mid:
"Just looks so devoid of any confidence. Really not sure where he fits in. Lacked any impact in defensive drills, and played half back in the 3/4 ground short match play drill but had little influence. To me he almost hangs his head and looks a little defeated in contrast to his first year when he had so much confidence and swagger about him as a top 10 draftee. If it was me, I would play him in the VFL as a mobile CHF or HFF in the Jack Gunston style role and see if he can build his confidence that way. When I look at our defence if everyone fit you have McKay, Reid, Ridley, Laverde, who are all 193-205. You can’t add another 200cm in there and not be torn up by faster and smaller mobile forward lines like Collingwood, GWS and Carlton. To me there is no place for him in defence even though that’s I think where they are planning on settling him for the time being."

Couple of others said he looked pretty mobile playing half back. Guess it is in the eye of the beholder.

Speaking to my source he was neither here or there on Cox. Said he went okay for a bloke who has not done much match stuff so far but needs to start ramping it up from here now he is back to full training.

Al I will say is that in my experience drawn from many years of watching training it you need to take parts of it with a grain of salt. Lots of blokes working on different things but it is often hard to draw too many conclusions when everyone is working on the same game plan and often blokes in match sim have roles to pressure but not actually go 100% depending on the drill. For example the intercept defender often hold back if the are working forward movement drills and only put on nominal pressure to get the forwards leading.

I think Cox will start in the VFL at half back. I think his confidence should grow as he starts to play in the one spot. What he has to sort out is does he have it in him to take the next step or does he lack the mental toughness and will keep taking soft options.

 

[ghostdog]

Couple of others said he looked pretty mobile playing half back. Guess it is in the eye of the beholder.

Speaking to my source he was neither here or there on Cox. Said he went okay for a bloke who has not done much match stuff so far but needs to start ramping it up from here now he is back to full training.

Al I will say is that in my experience drawn from many years of watching training it you need to take parts of it with a grain of salt. Lots of blokes working on different things but it is often hard to draw too many conclusions when everyone is working on the same game plan and often blokes in match sim have roles to pressure but not actually go 100% depending on the drill. For example the intercept defender often hold back if the are working forward movement drills and only put on nominal pressure to get the forwards leading.

I think Cox will start in the VFL at half back. I think his confidence should grow as he starts to play in the one spot. What he has to sort out is does he have it in him to take the next step or does he lack the mental toughness and will keep taking soft options.

I take it all with a grain of salt, I just find the different perceptions of how the players are tracking interesting.

I think Cox starts in the VFL too. I don't see who dislodges from the backline or the forwardline and I don't think he plays wing again. Sad because he showed so much promise, but at the moment I just don't see where he fits in. At best I think he'd play Ridley's role as third tall, but I don't think it will be for the EFC.

 

[D3K91]

I reckon trade him. I think he can be good, but we clearly don't have a position for him to own, nor a position for him to define as his own. Unless he puts on about 7kg (and I saw him today) I just don't see where he fits. Give him a chance at another club.

*Edit: he's a tall, mobile, but slow utility. He's not a KPD. Send him somewhere where he can play that role.

 

[andleanback]

i really thought in his first handful of games that his confidence was a huge strength. wonder what the explanation is.

Injury and being played out of position leading to loss of confidence in his own game

 

[andleanback]

I reckon trade him. I think he can be good, but we clearly don't have a position for him to own, nor a position for him to define as his own. Unless he puts on about 7kg (and I saw him today) I just don't see where he fits. Give him a chance at another club.

*Edit: he's a tall, mobile, but slow utility. He's not a KPD. Send him somewhere where he can play that role.

Shouldn’t be traded until we actually give him a chance to develop in a position we drafted him to play.

 

[D3K91]

Shouldn’t be traded until we actually give him a chance to develop in a position we drafted him to play.

Yeah, but tbh I think he had more value before. I'm not sure we improve his value by playing him in a role that isn't really open enough for him to thrive in.

 

[Godzke]

Shouldn’t be traded until we actually give him a chance to develop in a position we drafted him to play.

He won't make it as a winger, not at Essendon anyway and probably not at AFL level. Duursma's arrival has cemented Scott's view on that. We have to trial him in other positions and probably via the VFL.

Happy to take the long view with Cox's development, but at the same time we need to be open minded about his value.

We have more Top 10 draftees on our list than any other club. They're not all going to make it and there may come a time when we are at the 11th hour in our premiership window and we need to give something to sign an elite impact player. Cox could be the trade capital we need. Particularly when you consider Dodoro's comments last trade window that Essendon will continue to be aggressive in future free agency windows.

 

[Bjchan13]

He needs an injury free year firstly to regain confidence. If he gets that I think Scott will play him VFL to start which is good imo. He needs time in the VFL to remember how to kick, use his tank and use his height. Game sense and positioning should improve with continuity. I want to see him taking 8+ marks, kicking the ball cleanly 15+ times and using his tank to run and create drive off half back. He's gotta be accountable for someone as well and show he is fully aware of what his role is and what the gameplan is. Id like to see that for 10 weeks straight so we know he's back and remembered how to play. Then he might be ready for another go at AFL. Year 4= not allowed to be running around like a headless chook, kicking wormburners and getting caught out of position.

 

[ghostdog]

He needs an injury free year firstly to regain confidence. If he gets that I think Scott will play him VFL to start which is good imo. He needs time in the VFL to remember how to kick, use his tank and use his height. Game sense and positioning should improve with continuity. I want to see him taking 8+ marks, kicking the ball cleanly 15+ times and using his tank to run and create drive off half back. He's gotta be accountable for someone as well and show he is fully aware of what his role is and what the gameplan is. Id like to see that for 10 weeks straight so we know he's back and remembered how to play. Then he might be ready for another go at AFL. Year 4= not allowed to be running around like a headless chook, kicking wormburners and getting caught out of position.

So let's fast forward and imagine he has achieved these benchmarks, who then does he push out?

McGrath McKay Hind
Redman Reid/Laverde/Baldwin Ridley
Martin (7)

I only have the three together because I don't think that spot is resolved but it looks like Scott prefers Reid, and we heard yesterday that Marto looks like rotating through as the 7th.

If Cox's confidence is down it could be that he also sees the traffic jam in front of him, not to mention Hayes, Roberts and LL behind him.

It looks like his only way is to push Martin back to the mid/wing. That's a narrow path.

 

[MiguelM]

I think this year is make or break IMO.

He needs to be killing it in the VFL not onlyfor his chances in our team but for his trade chances.

It is tough, but AFL lists are ruthless. Gone are the days clubs hold on more than 3-4 years. Thatis the window.

 

[FlyingV]

Would like to see him compete with Jones as a mobile forward who can use his engine up the ground. His lack of aggression is a concern… not surprising given his build and lack of faith he must have in his body at this point.

Big year for him to say the least

 

[ghostdog]

Would like to see him compete with Jones as a mobile forward who can use his engine up the ground. His lack of aggression is a concern… not surprising given his build and lack of faith he must have in his body at this point.

Big year for him to say the least

I think he looked a bit lost when he was forward last year. Looked much more comfortable as a backman.

 

[Bjchan13]

So let's fast forward and imagine he has achieved these benchmarks, who then does he push out?

McGrath McKay Hind
Redman Reid/Laverde/Baldwin Ridley
Martin (7)

I only have the three together because I don't think that spot is resolved but it looks like Scott prefers Reid, and we heard yesterday that Marto looks like rotating through as the 7th.

If Cox's confidence is down it could be that he also sees the traffic jam in front of him, not to mention Hayes, Roberts and LL behind him.

It looks like his only way is to push Martin back to the mid/wing. That's a narrow path.

Achieving those benchmarks would guarantee him nothing apart from putting himself in contention again and increasing his trade value. Personally I see him as back up for Ridley or possibly eyeing off a spot as the 7th defender. He's nowhere near best 22 for me so i just want to see him get himself back in contention for a spot and be ready to go should we get injuries. He's still 21 for a few more days so still has time

 

[jannissary]

i don't think he's a walk up pick anymore, really needs to prove himself as someone worth picking/keeping on the list. it obviously takes time for players of his stature to get their bodies right so an injury-free preseason will do him a world of good but he looked listless when he was in the team last season.

could end up on the fringe by round 12