Essendon’s top draft pick, Nik Cox, reveals moment he knew he was a Bomber
Essendon’s top draft pick, Nik Cox, isn’t shy when it comes to his ambitions for 2021 and how he hopes to see an old teammate on an Anzac Day in the near future.
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Essendon’s top draft pick, Nik Cox, has his sights set on Round 1, 2021.
The 200cm beanpole has been earmarked as the Bombers’ future centre half-forward or centre half-back but believes he can make an instant impact on a wing or flank.
Despite his size, Cox is a running machine – clocking a 6.05min 2km time trial and a 2.98sec 20m sprint at last month’s combine – and has elite skills on both sides of his body.
Selected with pick No.8, the Northern Knights co-captain will report for duty at Tullamarine on Monday, ready to get to work.
“I’ve definitely got that in my sights … I’m going to work my hardest to put myself in contention to play Round 1,” he said.
“Whether that’s on the wing or half-back flank – I don’t think I’d go into a key position role yet – versatility is a strength of mine and I can run out the game pretty well.
“If I can continue to put on size and get to around 97-98kg and then move into the key position role I think I can be a pretty damaging player.”
Cox was always touted as a high draft pick but when a mystery phone number popped up on Wednesday night the Montmorency junior hoped for the best.
Essendon coach Ben Rutten asked a life-changing question but Cox didn’t want to spoil it for his family watching the draft on TV.
“Ben rang me just before they picked me and pretty much every player has texted me since,” he said.
“I wasn’t sure who it was because it was a random number and he just said ‘Hey, it’s Ben. How would you feel about being an Essendon footballer’. It was a pretty special moment.
“I went back to my family, they asked who it was and I just said ‘I don’t know’, I wanted to build the surprise.
“We’re a passionate footy family, everyone wants me to succeed, and they’ve been riding the highs and lows this whole time.”
Cox was the first of three consecutive Essendon draft picks with Sandringham midfielder Archie Perkins and Gippsland defender Zach Reid joining him at The Hanger.
Next Generation Academy products Josh Eyre and Cody Brand were then snapped up by matching bids from Richmond and Bulldogs respectively.
The group of new Bombers is already well acquainted having played with and against each other.
“I’ve been in the Vic Metro squad with Archie and played on Reidy a couple of time and had a couple of battles,” Cox said.
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“Josh Eyre and Cody Brand are there too, who I get on with really well, so it’s going to be awesome going through and developing with those boys. It’s going to be special.”
There was also pride and excitement for fellow Northern Knight Liam McMahon after he was drafted by Collingwood.
“There might be an Anzac Day clash in the future,” he said.
“It’s awesome, I’m really happy for him too, he’s put in a lot of hard work and deserves it so much, so hopefully in the future we can match up on each other, that would be special.”
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