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

 

[Blind Turn]

Thought Blackison/langford covered the intercept part well enough. McMahon has also been effective in that role at VFL level

Then there’s Nick Martin to come back next year and can take some of the distribution responsibilities. Plus Redman in a few weeks.

None of those are long term options as intercept defenders for a contending team which is what I’m focused on here. If Cox or one of the other talls can’t be that player then we need to recruit one or hope that KonDog comes on in the next year or two. I’m forward-thinking for a time without Rids as he’s giving us no confidence that he’ll be part of our next contending team.

 

[ant555]

None of those are long term options as intercept defenders for a contending team which is what I’m focused on here. If Cox or one of the other talls can’t be that player then we need to recruit one or hope that KonDog comes on in the next year or two. I’m forward-thinking for a time without Rids as he’s giving us no confidence that he’ll be part of our next contending team.

Kondo is the longer-term intercept defender in the mould of Ridley.

 

[Blind Turn]

Kondo is the longer-term intercept defender in the mould of Ridley.

I’ve patently not overlooked that fact. But his intercept game is far from evident yet. Cox and Jones are unutilised, with a level of senior maturity, who could be given the chance to fill that hole. It’s just a thought. Otherwise I’m not sure what the club is going to do with them if they hope to retain them on the list.

 

[ant555]

I’ve patently not overlooked that fact. But his intercept game is far from evident yet. Cox and Jones are unutilised, with a level of senior maturity, who could be given the chance to fill that hole. It’s just a thought. Otherwise I’m not sure what the club is going to do with them if they hope to retain them on the list.

Yes, it is far from evident for Kondo based on the few senior games he played this year and obviously a work in progress because he is so young but his defensive strength as a draftee was intercept and ball use. that is what he was drafted on.

As far as Cox and Jones go. I would like to see Jones back, but I suspect he is just going to be gone.
I always thought Cox would be a back. The thing is if he finds some mojo again it will always be as a 200cm outside flanker. It is good he is playing a bit better, but I suspect that along with Jones he will not be with us next year. I doubt they will want to retain them.

The forgotten guy is Hayes. We wait to see where he is at.

 

[Blind Turn]

Yes, it is far from evident for Kondo based on the few senior games he played this year and obviously a work in progress because he is so young but his defensive strength as a draftee was intercept and ball use. that is what he was drafted on.

As far as Cox and Jones go. I would like to see Jones back, but I suspect he is just going to be gone.
I always thought Cox would be a back. The thing is if he finds some mojo again it will always be as a 200cm outside flanker. It is good he is playing a bit better, but I suspect that along with Jones he will not be with us next year. I doubt they will want to retain them.

The forgotten guy is Hayes. We wait to see where he is at.

I certainly haven’t forgotten Hayes.

It strikes me as an awkward limbo we find ourselves in. If Ridley were durable, and Hayes wasn’t injured, it would give us time to develop Kondo and a natural transition could occur. Instead, we have none of those options which leaves us with either the need for a gap-filler on our list, or else we need to seriously look at luring another club’s established intercept defender at year’s end and offload Rids.

 

[jdstorm]

None of those are long term options as intercept defenders for a contending team which is what I’m focused on here. If Cox or one of the other talls can’t be that player then we need to recruit one or hope that KonDog comes on in the next year or two. I’m forward-thinking for a time without Rids as he’s giving us no confidence that he’ll be part of our next contending team.

Let’s break down our current depth chart by roles

KPD1 Mckay, Hayes
KPD 2 Reid, Gerryn
M/T Ridley Kondo
Medium Langford Clarke
HB1 Redman Johnson
HB2 Roberts farrow
HB3 McGrath Nguyen

So long term everything is lined up pretty well. It’s short term injury cover that’s harder.

options from other positions to cover if needed

Tall
Blackison McMahon Cox

Medium
Prior. Cillian Bourke Nick Martin

HB
SEH, and any other capable player. HB is the easiest spot on the ground.

The list balance is pretty good. What’s bad is the backlines inability to organise. Without Ridley and to exit effectively.

young guys just need more time but could also use another smart experienced HB user down there to direct traffic

You’d want it to be McGrath but that’s just not in his skillset.

 

[Blind Turn]

Let’s break down our current depth chart by roles

KPD1 Mckay, Hayes
KPD 2 Reid, Gerryn
M/T Ridley Kondo
Medium Langford Clarke
HB1 Redman Johnson
HB2 Roberts farrow
HB3 McGrath Nguyen

So long term everything is lined up pretty well. It’s short term injury cover that’s harder.

options from other positions to cover if needed

Tall
Blackison McMahon Cox

Medium
Prior. Cillian Bourke Nick Martin

HB
SEH, and any other capable player. HB is the easiest spot on the ground.

The list balance is pretty good. What’s bad is the backlines inability to organise. Without Ridley and to exit effectively.

young guys just need more time but could also use another smart experienced HB user down there to direct traffic

You’d want it to be McGrath but that’s just not in his skillset.

Add jones to that.?

The glaring issue though is that in one of the most important roles for a contender our intercept options are a hopeful prospect and potentially crippled and at best frustratingly unreliable senior player. Hawthorn have Sicily, Barrass, Battle, and even Weddle and Scrimshaw.

We have Cox and Jones without roles. It’s an absurdly huge hole and I don’t think people fully grasp how far behind the 8-ball we are if we don’t have that mid-20s, reliable, gun intercept player on our list.

Perhaps we need to forget about Reid playing on a direct opponent and have him solely play as the intercept general in defence. However, he’s ideal for match-ups on the likes of the Kings, Darcys, Treacys, Van Rooyens, etc who are tall and mobile. We need a Ridley type, or a Sicily, or a Stewart, or a Lever etc.

 

[jdstorm]

Add jones to that.?

The glaring issue though is that in one of the most important roles for a contender our intercept options are a hopeful prospect and potentially crippled and at best frustratingly unreliable senior player. Hawthorn have Sicily, Barrass, Battle, and even Weddle and Scrimshaw.

We have Cox and Jones without roles. It’s an absurdly huge hole and I don’t think people fully grasp how far behind the 8-ball we are if we don’t have that mid-20s, reliable, gun intercept player on our list.

I’m unsure how I feel about jones. Think he’s shown the most as a wing and needs time to settle there and learn how to play it. Like Cox as a forward

Coaches have had them in each other’s best position and I’m not sure why TBH.

Think Jones is one of the next guys on the list to be moved on. Would be surprised if he gets a next contract. Could try him at 3rd tall why not but I don’t see it mattering.

Hawks are over invested in their defence, and their pressure up field makes them more effective.

Start to get more pressure up field and Essendon’s defenders will start to look a lot better.

Ultimately you want to replace Ridley with “reliable Ridley” and that’s not going to happen with Ridley on the team unless Matt Inness does it.

I’m guessing this is why we offered Weddle so much money. We’re trying but if guys don’t want to play here not much you can do but draft and develop

 

[D3K91]

Intercept marking is such an overrated stat. Any AFL-standard player should be able to play that role.

It's obviously important to have happening, but 75% of those intercept marks are lob kicks into nowhere and all it takes is a defender not manning up to slot into the hole, or read where it's going. I think its more about structure than personnel.

 

[Blind Turn]

Intercept marking is such an overrated stat. Any AFL-standard player should be able to play that role.

It's obviously important to have happening, but 75% of those intercept marks are lob kicks into nowhere and all it takes is a defender not manning up to slot into the hole, or read where it's going. I think its more about structure than personnel.

I disagree. I won’t give you the Cake thumbs down treatment though

Fletcher, Stewart, Sicily, Lever, McGovern… the list goes on. These players have been extremely valuable players and their reading of the play, safe hands, and sure delivery out of defence are vastly superior traits compared to the odd bloke filling a hole in a slow build-up.

 

[ant555]

I certainly haven’t forgotten Hayes.

It strikes me as an awkward limbo we find ourselves in. If Ridley were durable, and Hayes wasn’t injured, it would give us time to develop Kondo and a natural transition could occur. Instead, we have none of those options which leaves us with either the need for a gap-filler on our list, or else we need to seriously look at luring another club’s established intercept defender at year’s end and offload Rids.

It is a bit of limbo land. Hopefully it doesn't hurt us too much in the long run.

 

[ant555]

Intercept marking is such an overrated stat. Any AFL-standard player should be able to play that role.

It's obviously important to have happening, but 75% of those intercept marks are lob kicks into nowhere and all it takes is a defender not manning up to slot into the hole, or read where it's going. I think its more about structure than personnel.

Agree with Blind Turn. you need to be constantly reading the play at a decent level.

 

[joey_jo_jo]

Feels harsh to say this because of the concussion he has battled over last 2 seasons, but i think its valid because his career had stagnated even before the concussion:
Watching ethan read play wing on the weekend and seeing blicavs hit 300 games, it just kept reminding me of how much promise cox showed in his first season.
He epitomises the lack of investment we had in player development.
He has barely made any improvement in his game nor has he built a mature frame for senior footy. Read already looks double the size of him.

 

[bombersim]

Feels harsh to say this because of the concussion he has battled over last 2 seasons, but i think its valid because his career had stagnated even before the concussion:
Watching ethan read play wing on the weekend and seeing blicavs hit 300 games, it just kept reminding me of how much promise cox showed in his first season.
He epitomises the lack of investment we had in player development.
He has barely made any improvement in his game nor has he built a mature frame for senior footy. Read already looks double the size of him.

Yep. The concussions are a recent phenomenon and not really what held him back - It was for the most part, a complete lack of development in his physical body (I.e. Size).
He’s tall enough to play KP, but lacks the strength; he’s also too slow to play third tall (particularly forward where he can’t get separation). He’s Mobile for a tall, but too slow to play as a mid or small.
Ultimately, what they tried to do was hide him on the wing, but he’s lack of speed and lack of capacity to read the play means the struggle struggles to get involved there too.

All that said, in his first season he looked like being a future superstar - taking contested marks up forward and down back… but at some point along the way he completely lost self-confidence - perhaps with the injuries - or maybe, he’s just not very good at football. Certainly his kicking was wildly overrated - he’s equally as bad off either foot.

I honestly believe the only way he can have an AFL career is if he puts on some bulk - there’s no other way around it. If you can’t do that, then unfortunately he gets cut.

 

[jdstorm]

Yep. The concussions are a recent phenomenon and not really what held him back - It was for the most part, a complete lack of development in his physical body (I.e. Size).
He’s tall enough to play KP, but lacks the strength; he’s also too slow to play third tall (particularly forward where he can’t get separation). He’s Mobile for a tall, but too slow to play as a mid or small.
Ultimately, what they tried to do was hide him on the wing, but he’s lack of speed and lack of capacity to read the play means the struggle struggles to get involved there too.

All that said, in his first season he looked like being a future superstar - taking contested marks up forward and down back… but at some point along the way he completely lost self-confidence - perhaps with the injuries - or maybe, he’s just not very good at football. Certainly his kicking was wildly overrated - he’s equally as bad off either foot.

I honestly believe the only way he can have an AFL career is if he puts on some bulk - there’s no other way around it. If you can’t do that, then unfortunately he gets cut.

Wasn’t the only Essendon player to loose confidence and regress. Classic Essington victim.

Question is can something still be salvaged now the environment seems less toxic

 

[joey_jo_jo]

Wasn’t the only Essendon player to loose confidence and regress. Classic Essington victim.

Question is can something still be salvaged now the environment seems less toxic

Yeah i was having a go at our development of players as a club but hes one of the starkest examples.