Former top 10 draft pick Nik Cox’s career in jeopardy at the age of only 23 due to concussion issues

Following a recent recurrence of symptoms, the AFL’s concussion panel looms for Nik Cox as his career hangs in the balance at the age of just 23.

Former top 10 draft pick Nik Cox will continue consulting with concussion specialists and the AFL’s medical boss but is destined to have his career decided by the AFL’s concussion panel.

Cox has recently had a recurrence of symptoms that first started in the week before Christmas, with his career in jeopardy at the age of only 23.

West Coast’s Jeremy McGovern is currently having his career prospects assessed by that panel of AFL officials and concussion experts, who will study his concussion history and up-to-date brain scans.

Cox continues to meet with experts while the Dons are guided by AFL medical boss Michael Makdissi.

The AFL career of Nik Cox is in doubt. Picture: Mark Stewart

But that panel seems likely to be called upon to make a ruling that could medically retire him or allow him to continue on.

Collingwood’s Nathan Murphy was initially cleared by an AFL concussion panel before they eventually medically retired him last year.

Cox is contracted for next season but the Dons would have 90 per cent of his contract out of their cap if the league eventually medically retired him.

Essendon will meet on Monday to discuss how many selections it will take in Wednesday’s mid-season draft given four selections and nine injuries to key talls.

The Dons have no key position players to call on given another injury to emerging star Zach Reid.

Essendon is still assessing the result of scans that will keep bookends Reid (hamstring) and Kyle Langford (quad) out for some time ahead of clashes with Brisbane (Gabba), Carlton, Geelong and Fremantle (Optus Stadium).

Scans confirmed that Ridley had suffered yet another hamstring strain although to the right leg instead of the left hamstring which has caused him so much grief.

Jordan Ridley will be on the sidelines for a while longer. Picture: Michael Klein

In 2023 he suffered a six-week hamstring injury then when the injury recurred ahead of his return he had season-ending surgery, while a round 1 2024 injury cost him seven weeks.

Given his history, even a low-level muscle disruption will be treated with the utmost caution, so it is hard to see him playing in the next three to four weeks.

Langford suffered a quad injury while kicking, which is likely to see him out of the team for at least a month.

Essendon’s star defender Jordan Ridley missed 10 weeks last year with a quad injury and then subsequent aggravation as he returned to training.

Quad injuries sustained while kicking are particularly sensitive and prone to recurrence given the power required to kick a football over 50 metres.

So Langford will not be hurried back for the Dons, who could call upon Darcy Parish (calf) against the Lions but would be giving him only a five-day break from his Saturday night VFL clash.

Originally published as Former top 10 draft pick Nik Cox’s career in jeopardy at the age of only 23 due to concussion issues