HAHAH AAHA HAHAH AHAHA HAHAHAHAHA
Oh, wait, were you being serious?
Very happy with this. Worst case scenario we burn a list spot for half a season - if he doesnāt come up by mid-2026 heād go back on the long-term injury list (to be delisted at the end of the year) and free up a spot in the MSD.
Best case scenario weāve got an extra first rounder on our list - and itās a player we know has a very high ceiling. (yes yes I get it, needs a high ceiling so he doesnāt bump his head again). And on a personal level itās great for Nik.
And Dodoroās wet dream stays alive ā¦
Ess 20.14 134 def Coll 4.7 31
BEST PLAYERS
Essendon: Reid, Cox, Perkins, Hobbs, Tsatas
Collingwood: Sidebottom, Pendlebury
1 Like
I will sound like a prick for this but I canāt fathom how UFC fighters can carry on into their 30ās after hundreds of blows to the head (ditto NRL to a degree) and the AFL is worried about concussion with the new rules which have been set up to turn the game into netball.
Mark Harvey I can remember being concussed. Just absolutely knocked unconscious on numerous occasions. But Iām struggling to recall the last player to KOād and yet we have players retiring etc. I donāt get it.
Itās true that recruiters will get more wrong than right, but your odds of getting it right with top 10 picks surely increases your strike rate.
My issue with the 2020 draft was that we took 3 players in the top 10. Knowing that these players lacked exposed form heading into that draft, they club should have done everything in its power to trade at least 1 of those picks out, maybe even 2.
We canāt pin the current list on the current list boss, but the sooner we move on from some of these Dodoro selections, the better.
1 Like
Follow those fighters into their 40s and 50s and check in. If they make it that far, that is.
TBH those sorts of combat sports should be banned IMO. Or they should have an eye watering mandatory welfare/insurance fund.
5 Likes
Iām pretty shocked at this news
That tribunal feels like a process designed such that anyone who gets in front of it doesnāt make it out with a career.
Iād imagine you donāt go before that panel unless the circumstances you are experiencing are potentially career ending.
1 Like
Iām not pro Dodo but it was a very very tough draft. JUH was always going to the dogs, Tillthorpe to an SA club then it drops away dramatically.
Max Holmes IMO likely the best at pick 20 , Erol Gulden at 32 and maybe throw McCreery in at mid 40s but out of the top 50 kids the strike rate is exceptionally low.
If we chose to trade picks out, no doubt fans/media hypotheticals would say we lost the chance to pick quality players such as Gulden or Holmes despite never being on our radar. The club canāt win.
Essendon just unlucky we had 3 picks inside the 10 in 2020. Despite that I feel Reid could be a star if he gets his body right and I hope Coxy gets back to his best (on and off the field).
5 Likes
From the Rage:
Rising Bomber grounded for 2025 but will play on next season
ByPeter Ryan
Updated July 7, 2025 ā 5.55pmfirst published at 4.30pm
Essendon utility Nik Cox will not play again this season after consultation with the AFLās concussion panel, but is aiming to continue his career in 2026.
The 23-year-old suffered a head knock before Christmas that kept him sidelined for an extended period. He returned to play against North Melbourne in the VFL, but was again sidelined as his concussion symptoms returned after his following match against Sydney.
Nik Coxās career will continue next yearCredit:Getty Images
He appeared before the AFLās concussion panel in June at a similar time as West Coast veteran Jeremy McGovern, however, unlike the Eagles premiership defender, Cox was not told to retire immediately.
Instead, he was provided with a return-to-play pathway, which included sitting out the rest of the season.
āAfter meeting with an independent AFL medical panel regarding my concussion history, Iām pleased that Iāve been cleared to continue my playing career. Whilst Iām disappointed that I wonāt return to the field for the remainder of the 2025 season, this time away from the game will be used to focus fully on my health, recovery, and building the strongest possible foundation heading into pre-season,ā Cox said.
āIām incredibly grateful to my club, teammates, medical staff, and everyone who has supported me through whatās been a challenging and uncertain period. Iāve learned a lot about myself over the past few months, and Iām more motivated than ever to get back to doing what I love.
My focus now is on continuing to work closely with specialists and the club to make sure Iām in the best place physically and mentally to return to football.ā
Cox took a fortnightās leave at the advice of the panel and then returned to the Hangar to meet with club officials early this week to discuss the plan of attack for the top-10 pick in 2020 who has now played 53 matches for Essendon.
The talented utility had an outstanding opening season, playing 22 matches before injuries derailed the following two campaigns.
He then played 20 matches in 2024, missing one match after being put in the concussion protocols following a knock against the Gold Coast.
Cox is contracted until the end of 2026 and the clubās football manager Dan McPherson said the Bombers supported Coxās road map to return.
āNik has endured a really difficult period with his ongoing concussion symptoms, and weāre fully committed to helping him recover both physically and mentally,ā McPherson said.
āAfter meeting with the panel in June, the recommendation for Nik to step away from footy for the remainder of this year was one that we accepted, with the view to giving him the best chance of getting back to his best when he returns, both on and off-field.ā
Bombers coach Brad Scott, meanwhile, revealed on Fox Footy that injury plagued defender Zach Reid would need surgery on his hamstring.
4 Likes
ārising bomberā ā¦ā¦ā¦wtf
Most boxers are fine well into old age.
The afl are doing this to avoid a future lawsuit at any cost.
Obviously there are some players that absolutely shouldnāt play anymore too though.
1 Like
The decision to be retired is the results of brain scans. His scans must be clear.
CT and MRI scans are primarily used to detect more severe brain injuries like bleeding, swelling, or fractures, which are not typically present in concussions. CTE can only be tested posthumously so I wonder what indicators they use to determine suitability to play on?
Maybe memory/cognitive tests etc? Genuinely curious.
1 Like
I think a lot of the concern has been driven by the studies in the US involving former NFL players which have shown horrific levels of TBI. The NFL has changed their rules about leading into tackles head-first, as well as changing the safety standards for helmets.
Iām actually surprised we donāt see more players in the AFL wearing the padded rugby-style head protectors, although I fully admit I have no understanding of their effectiveness.
1 Like
A mate of mine has played a ā ā ā ā tonne of forty, reckons heās taken about 15 serious head knocks. Heās 42 and has memory issues. Heās scared as hell about his future and rightfully so.
7 Likes
No evidence to show that helmets prevent brain damage, but are helpful in stopping skull fracture, cuts etc.
6 Likes
If you canāt fathom it, perhaps start with a little bit of research in to CTE.
6 Likes
Also, never underestimate the mindset/stigma of not admitting āweaknessā in a lot of contact and combat sports. āPlay through the painā, ādonāt be a sookā, āitās just a headacheā, etc.
3 Likes
I donāt agree that fans would have said why didnāt we pick such and such if we traded out of the draft. Those players were not rated as top 10 players.
Good list managers work with the info they have. Dodoro chose to take 3 players in the top 10 despite knowing there was little exposed form.
In short, the helmets that are worn in AFL (Xerri, Caleb Daniel) donāt help much stopping the brain hitting the inside of the skull which causes concussions.
NFL style helmets are better at dissipating force, though are still not concussion proof.
Thereās no silver bullet for avoiding concussions at the moment, outside not playing at all.
2 Likes