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

 

[FlyingV]

same body type as marco jansen

Cox, Reid and Hayes - could have been a formidable fast bowling attack

 

[Duckworth]

Cox, Reid and Hayes - could have been a formidable fast bowling attack

Pigeon went alright.

 

[FootyGuru]

200cm types take a while to develop, we wouldn’t blink at his slow development if he were labelled a ruck from draft day.

I’m not writing him off yet, but the concussions are a worry.

Am I hearing correctly the Gerryn is developing as a back and cox as a forward. Could easily see cox overtake jones for the higher key forward role.

 

[Vindicater]

Training as a forward? Wasn't he a key back in his draft years?

 

[astrowizzle]

He sort of reminds me of Reid from the swans. I could see him filling out to that over the next few years as long as a bird flying overhead didn't drop a feather on his head

 

[jdstorm]

200cm types take a while to develop, we wouldn’t blink at his slow development if he were labelled a ruck from draft day.

I’m not writing him off yet, but the concussions are a worry.

Am I hearing correctly the Gerryn is developing as a back and cox as a forward. Could easily see cox overtake jones for the higher key forward role.

Gerryn played defence last year and was pretty good there. It’s surprising but No reason not to keep developing him in that role as he’s shown a bit.

Probably the most cox has shown is as a key forward. Has the athleticism to give good pressure for his size and can kick both feet which helps in the pockets. Not much to lose playing him there

Expect Jones to be a VFL wing

 

[Keystone agony]

Also wouldnt surprise me if theyre giving him some time forward (if true) - one snippett suggest so aswell though, that it is maybe considered less likely for head knocks

Dont have to sit in holes as much and have traffic arriving at speed

But maybe its just a move aswell, i dont think that will work but Gerryns kicking down back looks an option. I just think we need more mobile mover in Cox next to Mckay and Reid rather than Gerryn or L.Hayes

 

[Old Campaigner]

Next minute

 

[ant555]

200cm types take a while to develop, we wouldn’t blink at his slow development if he were labelled a ruck from draft day.

I’m not writing him off yet, but the concussions are a worry.

Am I hearing correctly the Gerryn is developing as a back and cox as a forward. Could easily see cox overtake jones for the higher key forward role.

I would be blinking a lot if he was a ruck and displaying his level of competitiveness.

 

[FootyGuru]

I would be blinking a lot if he was a ruck and displaying his level of competitiveness.

Bryan is some competitive beast? Vigo has shown more competitiveness than Bryan in his first game than Bryan has in career, yet no one speaks to that. He has other strengths just like cox. Bryan consistently gets out marked by flankers yet it seems he’s going to be given the number 1 ruck spot.

 

[ant555]

Bryan is some competitive beast? Vigo has shown more competitiveness than Bryan in his first game than Bryan has in career, yet no one speaks to that. He has other strengths just like cox. Bryan consistently gets out marked by flankers yet it seems he’s going to be given the number 1 ruck spot.

You have not watched close enough if you are saying that. Bryan has never short stepped on the footy field. No he is not a great contested mark and has lacked some physicality over his time as far as using his body but he has always competed and has done against some hard nuts in the VFL. There is an actual difference. There have been games in the last two years where Cox has simply positioned himself in spots where he could not win the footy.

 

[FootyGuru]

You have not watched close enough if you are saying that. Bryan has never short stepped on the footy field. No he is not a great contested mark and has lacked some physicality over his time as far as using his body but he has always competed and has done against some hard nuts in the VFL. There is an actual difference. There have been games in the last two years where Cox has simply positioned himself in spots where he could not win the footy.

I have watched Bryan plenty. Every player has short stepped, including Bryan. While Bryan has been consistently good in his last few years in the vfl, cox was mainly playing in the afl, where everything gets far more analysed and criticised. I’m not suggesting cox be a ruckman, but cox is younger and also 200cms, but doesn’t get the same leeway Bryan does from fans.

Concussion aside cox has plenty of useable afl traits and has shown ability to play many positions. We don’t need every player to be jye Caldwell at the contest.

I think if they are planning on using cox as a high leading half forward, it allows us to move him position wise if necessary without losing structure. The 5 on the bench helps in this regard, but likely he will have to start in the vfl to get his confidence up.

 

[ghostdog]

I didn't want to see Cox play on at all, but here we are.

VFL for mine, and doesn't get a ticket until he's playing like he never had a concussion. If there's no appetite for the contest they don't belong here, including Coxy.

 

[ant555]

I have watched Bryan plenty. Every player has short stepped, including Bryan. While Bryan has been consistently good in his last few years in the vfl, cox was mainly playing in the afl, where everything gets far more analysed and criticised. I’m not suggesting cox be a ruckman, but cox is younger and also 200cms, but doesn’t get the same leeway Bryan does from fans.

Concussion aside cox has plenty of useable afl traits and has shown ability to play many positions. We don’t need every player to be jye Caldwell at the contest.

I think if they are planning on using cox as a high leading half forward, it allows us to move him position wise if necessary without losing structure. The 5 on the bench helps in this regard, but likely he will have to start in the vfl to get his confidence up.

Yes Cox does have plenty of really good AFL traits. It is why I rated him as a draft pick and early on.
No he does not have to be Caldwell at the contest but one thing every AFL player inside or outside needs is to have the desire to compete. Compete is not just crashing in and being fierce at the footy. For the outside players it is the desire to be involved. To take the hits when they come even if it is not 100% your role.
Getting to the fact here.
The one thing that is holding Cox back is how competitive he has been.
His form started going down hill in his first year when sides started putting physical pressure on him and it has not recovered. Now maybe it is he is not confident in his body or it is his nature but it is the one thing he has to get on top of to be the players he could be.
So it is not unfair to say if he was a young ruck I would be very concerned about how competitive he is.
You can actually read my three seasons of comments on Bryan in his thread. It had one theme. Needs to physically impose himself more. However that does not at all change the fact that Cox needs to be more competitive.

 

[calyam]

He clearly doesn't have a future in the AFL. His history of concussions will see to that. I doubt we'll see him at AFL level again.

 

[EnolaGay]

Yes Cox does have plenty of really good AFL traits. It is why I rated him as a draft pick and early on.
No he does not have to be Caldwell at the contest but one thing every AFL player inside or outside needs is to have the desire to compete. Compete is not just crashing in and being fierce at the footy. For the outside players it is the desire to be involved. To take the hits when they come even if it is not 100% your role.
Getting to the fact here.
The one thing that is holding Cox back is how competitive he has been.
His form started going down hill in his first year when sides started putting physical pressure on him and it has not recovered. Now maybe it is he is not confident in his body or it is his nature but it is the one thing he has to get on top of to be the players he could be.
So it is not unfair to say if he was a young ruck I would be very concerned about how competitive he is.
You can actually read my three seasons of comments on Bryan in his thread. It had one theme. Needs to physically impose himself more. However that does not at all change the fact that Cox needs to be more competitive.

Hopefully he's been building on his physique in his time out, including strengthening his shoulders and neck.

With a stronger body it might give him more confidence in physicality and competitiveness. No doubt he'll need some time in the VFL to also work on his mental confidence to attack the game.

Wishing him all the best in a) remaining concussion free and b) getting back to a point where he can display his talents consistently.

 

[fairbump_playon]

AFL really lamed out when they made players’ weights secret

 

[MiguelM]

AFL really lamed out when they made players’ weights secret

Bizzare decision. Players would have their weights checked and feedback regularly.

Professional sport would carry no stigma.

Imagine if Boxing stopped publishing weights?

 

[faible]

Bizzare decision. Players would have their weights checked and feedback regularly.

Professional sport would carry no stigma.

Imagine if Boxing stopped publishing weights?

Bolded really isn't true. Athletes get shit on constantly about their appearance.

Boxing isn't really analogous given the whole weight class thing, but there also doesn't need to be a public weigh-in either. You could simply have the officials do it.

Beyond curiosity there's no real reason we as supporters need to know player weights.

 

[fairbump_playon]

Bolded really isn't true. Athletes get shit on constantly about their appearance.

Boxing isn't really analogous given the whole weight class thing, but there also doesn't need to be a public weigh-in either. You could simply have the officials do it.

Beyond curiosity there's no real reason we as supporters need to know player weights.

Come now. What is following sport but an endless exercise of curiosity?

What are we all doing here but speculating and analysing?

Why do we expect injury updates?

Why do we still get to know heights?

By far the most useful insight we get from weight info is that it helps us track the progress of young kids turning from sticks into mature athletes.

Second favourite use is getting deeper into 1 on 1 match ups.. eg Wright has 10cm and 12kg on that guy but is still getting pushed off the ball.

If the punters want to shame a tubby Stringer they will use their eyes.

 

[faible]

Oh no the red thumb of doom

 

[Runk]

Oh no the red thumb of doom

CONGRATULATIONS! YOU'VE BEEN 'CAKED!'