Nik Cox just wants chance to prove himself ahead of AFL Draft

Nik Cox has long been touted as a top draft pick but the exciting Northern Knights defender isn’t concerned with predictions, he only wants the chance to prove himself.

Nik Cox is a potential first-round draft pick.

The time for predictions is over for Nik Cox, the exciting young star just wants the chance to prove himself.

The Northern Knights tall defender has been spoken about as a potential first-round draft pick for the past two years, even a No.1 pick contender.

At 200cm, with elite athleticism and impressive skills on both sides of his body, he’s an AFL recruiter’s dream.

However, with the 2020 season cancelled the Montmorency junior hasn’t truly got the chance to show why he’s so highly touted.

“Being spoken about in that first-round bracket is exciting but ultimately it’s down to recruiters,” he said.

Nik Cox in action at the pre-draft training session.

“I’m not looking at any media or mock drafts, I’m trying to avoid that because I can’t really control if anyone wants to pick me.

“It’s a matter of being switched on, continuing to train well and be in a position to get picked up and wherever I land I don’t mind.”

When he did get a chance to impress – at the Vic Metro combine and pre-draft training session – he’s taken it with both hands.

Cox clocked a 6.05min 2km time, the fourth best time nationally, and a 2.98sec 20m sprint at last month’s combine.

He followed it up with a strong showing at last week’s training session for Victorian hopefuls, displaying his improved strength.

“I was aiming to break six minutes in the 2km (at the combine), just fell short, but still pretty happy with 6.05,” Cox said.

“To be 200cm and still be able to put up that time is a really exciting thing in the eyes of recruiters I hope.

“It was good to see all the boys again (at the training session), obviously saw them at the combine, but it was pretty limited.

Nik Cox in action for Australia Under-17s.

Nik Cox in action for the Northern Knights.

“It was good to catch up with everyone and have a kick and have an actual organised training session for the first time in eight months.”

Last year, Cox represented Australia Under-17s against New Zealand, where he was named in the best players, played one game as a 17-year-old for Vic Metro at the Under-18 National Championships and featured in the Future Stars match on grand final day.

In 10 NAB League games for the Knights he averaged 12.5 disposals, five marks, two tackles and kicked nine goals.

He played mainly across half-forward and on as wing in his bottom-age season but was set for a permanent move to centre half-back in 2020.

Despite being a Western Bulldogs fan, it’s a star Magpie that he models his game on.

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“I spend a lot of time watching Darcy Moore, he’s the type of player I’d really like to be like,” Cox said.

“He’s a good defender, really athletic and for someone his size moves really well, a skilful player and can be moved up forward if need be.

“It’s a hard one not being able to put things into practice and train for that but you can still watch vision and pick up behavioural tips.

“Watching Harris Andrews and Darcy Moore, but also guys like Tom Lynch and Aaron Naughton, who are pretty athletic, tall and can play either end of the ground. You can pick up little things from just watching them.”