AFL Player #13: Nik Cox 🦄 - Skipper called him 'the Unicorn' in an interview (confirmed!)

[Beerfish]

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

 

[wichidi]

i could certainly see him being a dustin fletcher like player (sans the playing 400 games) if he maintains the same body profile

Needs to start downing pie/sausage roll and chocolate milk during warm up to match the lofty heights of Dustin.

 

[mcgrath_truther]

Nowhere near the pace or agility of Fletcher.

he'd have to work hard on himself first but it could happen!

 

[ant555]

Single handedly his worst attribute is his handpass, the amount of times I have seen him miss a basic handpass is bewildering.
But at his best, he's shown flashes of brilliance. Hitting players lace out on either foot, but it's inconsistent.

It would be good if he can fix it as his vision is pretty good as far as seeing the targets quickly. As you say the execution is not great.

 

[The Devils Advocate]

It would be good if he can fix it as his vision is pretty good as far as seeing the targets quickly. As you say the execution is not great.

I have even seen him spot difficult targets in tight spots, just stuggles with his handpass. Thankfully it's a skill you can improve drastically.

 

[Rick Ross]

There’s never been a 200+ cm flanker/winger in league history and don’t think he’ll be a particularly successful one. Has to develop as a KP and needs to bulk up. Barely put on anything in the time he’s been here..unbelievable..get him his own dietitian.

Supposedly put on 10kg to be 96kg by start of season. Might be one of the few guys who goes to the gym but skips arm day.

Some parallel 200cm non-KP guys.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

Supposedly put on 10kg to be 96kg by start of season. Might be one of the few guys who goes to the gym but skips arm day.

Some parallel 200cm non-KP guys.
View attachment 1956543

Blicavs plays ruck or KPD. Westhoff was a tall marking forward

 

[fairbump_playon]

Supposedly put on 10kg to be 96kg by start of season. Might be one of the few guys who goes to the gym but skips arm day.

Some parallel 200cm non-KP guys.
View attachment 1956543

He was drafted by the Air Force not the Army

 

[Rick Ross]

Blicavs plays ruck or KPD. Westhoff was a tall marking forward

Blicavs started playing wing / flank (when Cox’s age). Westoff only came into his own when switched onto the wing.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

Blicavs started playing wing / flank (when Cox’s age). Westoff only came into his own when switched onto the wing.

Westhoff played up the ground for a season at most and it wasn’t the wing. Then went back to forward line where he played most of his career and kicked over 300 goals. Also played in latter career in the ruck. Blicavs made his name back and ruck.

 

[DERO]

The lack of competitiveness is a bit of a worry.

 

[boncer34]

Very keen to see how he goes against JUH.

So he'll probably play on Naughton.

 

[ant555]

The lack of competitiveness is a bit of a worry.

Agree . That is my biggest concern. He has to start really wanting it.
One observation from my training source that gives you an insight to attitude is the fact that The likes of Hobbs have some hustle during breaks in training. They jog over at a quick rate where Cox often just ambles over .
May not seem much but it is a mindset thing.

 

[Runk]

Blicavs is the prototype. Just an incredible player.

Cox is nowhere near it.

 

[DERO]

Blicavs is the prototype. Just an incredible player.

Cox is nowhere near it.

Yep. Blicavs also started as a part-time ruck and had a crack right from the start.

Cox looks like he might be one of those hard-gaining types like Matthew Lappin, Andrew Mackie etc who struggle to put on the muscle. That might be the other problem.

 

[boncer34]

Blicavs is the prototype. Just an incredible player.

Cox is nowhere near it.

I think you've missed the point. Nobody has equated them as being the same right now.

But at Cox's age Blicavs was a hack. He improved.

If Cox can get half of that improvement he'll at the very least become serviceable.

 

[Runk]

I think you've missed the point. Nobody has equated them as being the same right now.

But at Cox's age Blicavs was a hack. He improved.

If Cox can get half of that improvement he'll at the very least become serviceable.

but yes i did.....

 

[boncer34]

but yes i did.....

Nikolas Cox and Mark Blicavs AFL Stats Comparison

Nikolas Cox and Mark Blicavs AFL Stats Comparison.

www.footywire.com

Fwiw. Same age.

And most of the discrepancies can be explained by the different roles they play.

 

[MiguelM]

Blicavs is the prototype. Just an incredible player.

Cox is nowhere near it.

Not many are close, he is a freak!

Cox is building nicely IMO, just needs to be played as much as possible.

 

[wichidi]

Not many are close, he is a freak!

Cox is building nicely IMO, just needs to be played as much as possible.

It's not like we have heaps of depth knocking the door down. Agree, keep playing as much as possible

 

[Agronomus]

What about Hayes?
McKay, Reid, Ridley, Cox, Hayes may be on the tallish side

 

[bombreys]

Very keen to see how he goes against JUH.

So he'll probably play on Naughton.

I think he'll go to Darcy, won't he? Lav to JUH?

 

[sup3rfish]

He needs to find some aggression or desire for the contest. Id love to see him lay 8 tackles tonight and have 10 contested possessions.

 

[boncer34]

He needs to find some aggression or desire for the contest. Id love to see him lay 8 tackles tonight and have 10 contested possessions.

8 tackles as a KPD is not realistic. Fletcher, Scarlett and Rance did it once collectively across their career's.

 

[Mikevk123]

What about Hayes?
McKay, Reid, Ridley, Cox, Hayes may be on the tallish side

We’ve spent so much on key backs through salary cap space and draft capital.

 

[boncer34]

We’ve spent so much on key backs through salary cap space and draft capital.

How many others are missing from that list? 5 isn't heaps.

Ridley? Laverde coz he had to coz we had no one else?