everyone had him ranked highly its not like we plucked him from obscurity.
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Itās like someone who pays $1 Million for a house thatās worth $600K. Is the house worth $1M? No, but if someone is willing to pay that, itās a $1M house. Upon reflection, Iām less annoyed by the decision to take him at Pick 8 now given that the 2020 draft was a bit of a crapshoot with Covid and everything. Suffice to say that drafting a player with no real position that high is probably an error of judgement, and we sit here 4 years into his career and we are none the wiser as to where he will play long term. I suspect forward is his best go, but we need to give him some clear space, which the possible departures of Stringer and/or Wright could unlock.
It was so deflating after his game v Adelaide that the rest of the season in the game he played he was in defence and looked completely ineffectualā¦
Yep - all the phantom drafts I read had him going to GWS a few picks after we drafted him.
yeah everyone had granger barass top 5 and will phillips too.
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We all know the importance of continuity, right?
Cox played a total of 11 games over 2022 and 2023. Played 20 this year.
Another pre-season, keep him out of the backline and letās see how he goes. Would love to see what he can do in a forward/half forward role. FFS, keep him away from the backline.
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What is his position? My concern is he slows the team down further because heās another tall.
Nik played a few games where he pinch hit in ruck and than rested forward kicking a few goals. I think itās worth testing him in this role but the current forward structure would need to change and we couldnāt play both Draper and Bryan. Probably his last chance as I donāt see a future for him in defence or on the wing long term.
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Or he makes us quicker because heās one of our talls.
Itās getting the balance right. We havenāt managed to do that in the second half of the year.
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100%. v the Crows at Marvel he went forward and clunked a few marks. probably looks more certain when he can run and jump at the ball as an extra tall option. What that does to Jones ā ā ā ā knows.
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Forward.
Heās not a backman or a winger. Could provide a marking target or be the guy that takes the inside 50 kick.
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With Caddy, Langford, and probably Draper resting forward if he and Bryan both play (which they should), there is no room for another tall forward especially since our small forwards are putrid.
IMO Cox, Jones and Perkins definitely canāt all play in the same side, and probably a balanced lineup would not have room for any of them. None are mids, wingers or defenders.
The forward line is an unbalanced mess, even without also considering Wright.
Fair point but at he should be part of the overall forward setup. Bound to be injuries/managements.
Agree. VFL for Cox. A Break glass in an emergency role
If thatās how we see Cox, weād be better off trading him.
He either needs to be well and truly in the best 22 calculations (obviously if not in form he can be dropped) or moved on while he has some value. Would be an absolute waste as depth.
Brad Scott has basically played him at every chance heās been fit. I think heās absolutely locked into his best 22 calculations going forward.
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Trade him out
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I wouldnāt go as far as saying the expression, ābreak glass in case of emergencyā applies to Nic. Iād be happy to let him spend the first 8 weeks of the season playing forward. At a bare minimum, he should be part of the forward group.
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To be honest Iām not convinced that we need to be playing both Draper and Bryan in the same side with one resting in the forward line is necessarily the answer. With the potential for a 5 man bench the resting ruck can be rotated through there, or if thereās only 4 on the bench perhaps the solo ruck with chopout from Cox is better for team balance.
In my mind we need a forward line that is providing movement and options and creating opportunities. 2 mobile KPFs (eg Jones, Caddy), 2 mobile medium talls who can take a mark, but are also ground level threats and provide defensive pressure. (Eg Langford, Cox or Perkins), 2 dangerous and dynamic smalls who can kick goals, create carnage and also provide defensive pressure (eg Davey and Davey). On the bench youād then have the extra mid sizer who also works as a utility/mid whatever, and an extra small forward (again with multiple strings to their how, maybe Kako).
This group should have the speed and flexibility and running power to create opportunities forward if the ball when we get on top in the midfield, and should be mobile and quick enough to switch from attacking to defensive structures to stop quick counter attacks from the opposition.
When you have a big slow KPF you become too predictable going forward, and to slow when the opposition get the ball. And thatās exacerbated when that KPF is Draper who, for all of his puppy dog enthusiasm and genuine athletic ability, is not a smart footballer, and when one of your other mid sized forwards is Stringer who canāt put in multiple defensive efforts in a row.
We absolutely need to restructure the forward line in my opinion and Cox should definitely be in those discussions, due to what he can bring to the table.
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Agree. I would have Cox in the forward line ahead of 2MP. Big Pete is slow and does not compete in the air 2MP is a sublime kick for goal, but that isnāt enough these days. Cox is more mobile and will need to hit the packs even though it is not as yet, part of his natural game. Cox is also a decent kick of both feet. He should never ever be played in defence.
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Taller Will Hoskin-Elliot?
No where near, doesnāt have the tank.