Analysis Dean Cox

Will Dean Cox be in your Initial SuperCoach Team in 2013?

  • 1. Locked

    Votes: 31 50.8%
  • 2. Likely

    Votes: 21 34.4%
  • 3. Watch

    Votes: 8 13.1%
  • 4. Unlikely

    Votes: 1 1.6%
  • 5. No

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    61
  • Poll closed .

Impromptu

Strategist
Joined
1 Mar 2012
Messages
6,911
Likes
8,228
AFL Club
Essendon
#1
Dean Cox of West Coast is the Gary Ablett of the SuperCoach rucks. Cox is a SuperCoach immortal and averages the same as midfield premiums. Will you lock in Cox regardless of his relatively high price?

Name - Dean Cox (WCE)
Position - RUC / FWD
Price - $600,700
Average - 112.3(22), 122.2(22), 88(22), 111.1(13), 111.7(22)
Draw - FRE, HAW, MEL, CAR, PTA, WBD, BRL, NTH, GWS, RIC, STK, BYE, HAW

With Nic Naitanui apparently in doubt for the first fews rounds of 2013, Dean Cox appears to have reclaimed the number 1 ruckman status in the SuperCoach world (from a popularity point of view). However, I think the main concern with the selection of picking Cox will always be whether he'll played as a Forward or as a Ruckman when Naitanui comes back.

However, with Cox now having the DPP entitlement of Ruck / Forward, Cox claim for a lock in SuperCoach appears to have strengthened.

REASONS FOR DEAN COX

Cox has consistently been the Gary Ablett of the Rucks in SuperCoach and as you can see Cox averaged over 110 in four of the past five years.

In the last few years, the common theme has been that Cox is getting old and the student, Naitanui has taken over the master's throne in the Wild West. Also, in some games against weaker teams, there have been the usual rumours of Cox being a late out and/or will be rested. Amazingly, Cox still played all of the possible 22 games in 2012 and averaged 112.3. Therefore with all these reasons not to pick Cox in our SuperCoach, Cox continues to be a dominant force.

The additional benefit with Cox in SuperCoach 2013 is Cox is now categorised as a Ruck / Forward DPP. Therefore, if you believe with the perception that in recent times, the Ruck scoring has been adjusted in a favourable manner, then Cox could be played in the Forward position in your SuperCoach team.

That means, even if you don't believe Cox warrants a position in your starting two Ruck positions, but believe Cox will finish as a top 6 Forward, then Cox would be a valid selection. I strongly recommend you read the Rucking Forwards article when considering Cox in your intitial SuperCoach team.

REASONS AGAINST DEAN COX

I think one of the deterrence of having Dean Cox is his starting price of $600,700. That actually means that you are paying the same for Cox as you would for Marc Murphy give and take a few thousand. Therefore, if you prefer certainty in whether a player is going to play, then you would pick Murphy over Cox (indirectly due to position categorisation) due to the fact Murphy is guaranteed in the Midfield.

Another possible against Cox, is everyone appears to think Cox will get rested later in the year. There were lots of this talk in 2012 of this, but Cox still played every possible game and has for a number of years. Again, the same perception will be with again that with Cox's age (31), he will drop in scoring eventually.

For me, Cox is currently a likely with Naitanui's injury concerns. The reason why Cox is not a lock is because Leuenberger($301,100) is my current lock and with 1 more Ruck position available, I have a few 'Value Priced Player' on my radar, refer to the Loose Change article for more information on VPPs.

Verdict: LIKELY(2)
 
Joined
19 Jun 2012
Messages
8,560
Likes
11,561
AFL Club
Collingwood
#2
With no Nic Nat, DPP, best ruckman by light years, missed a couple of games in three years. No brainer.
 

Hairy

300 Games Club
Joined
29 Nov 2012
Messages
1,471
Likes
23
AFL Club
Hawthorn
#3
I think everyone round knows how well I rate big Dean Cox. Particularly after my long arguments that he is one of the top 3 FWD in the comp. As stated, no Nic Nat for many weeks means big Coxy just got a whole lot more attractive.
 

Goodie's Guns

Leadership Group
Joined
21 May 2012
Messages
22,312
Likes
31,158
AFL Club
Hawthorn
#4
I think everyone round knows how well I rate big Dean Cox. Particularly after my long arguments that he is one of the top 3 FWD in the comp. As stated, no Nic Nat for many weeks means big Coxy just got a whole lot more attractive.
And when you throw in the stats Nk29 posted about three days ago in regard to his previous/recent scores against the teams he faces early in the year.
 
Joined
1 Apr 2012
Messages
341
Likes
279
#5
My first player picked this year ... especially given the NicNac injury ... but even without that as a forward option with his consistency and durability why would you not pick him.
 

Philzsay

Leadership Group
Joined
21 Mar 2012
Messages
10,448
Likes
14,965
AFL Club
Essendon
#6
If I voted 2 months ago it would have been unlikely, but with him being able to be one of six forwards when there are not many premium forwards I am sold on instead of just one of two ruckman, plus the Nic Nat injury situation, he is very likely for me.
 

Nk29

Captain
Joined
16 Sep 2012
Messages
5,595
Likes
96
AFL Club
Geelong
#7
Lock and Load. Absolute Beast and will be one of those players who don't drop off as they get older (e.g. Boomer). Older rucks also tend to better so he should at least provide the same output next year imo. I reckon that West Coast will manage NicNat all year, and the Cox/NicNat ruck time split should remain roughly the same as last year, which suited Cox just fine.
 

IDIG

Leadership Group
Joined
8 Mar 2012
Messages
35,325
Likes
20,502
AFL Club
Essendon
#8
Locked and loaded. Hasn't not been in my team since hearing about Nicnat.
 
Joined
26 Nov 2012
Messages
366
Likes
415
AFL Club
Collingwood
#9
Voted Likely...but with a strong positive bias. Almost certainly a lock. Got to have a DPP fwd/ruck combo this year and Cox is right there in the mix with Roughy, Ryder et alia.
 

WandP

150 Games Club
Joined
13 Apr 2012
Messages
838
Likes
56
AFL Club
Geelong
#11
Going along the same lines as Jay and trying to go for a bit more value in the ruck. Rolling the dice and going to wait for Nic Nat as an upgrade target in my FWDs (hopefully at a reduced price if he starts out rusty) and complete the RUC/FWD link then. Risky and plenty of scope for that strategy to blow up in my face if we have the same ruck injury plague as last year but if it comes off it could work well. Plenty of time for me to chicken out though!

While he'll be a beast scoring wise, IMO, I don't see any room for growth in his aggregate given he played all 22 last year and that's what i'd be looking for shelling out that sort of cashola from the start.
 

Jordyfoz

Rising Star Winner
Joined
21 Aug 2012
Messages
251
Likes
2
AFL Club
St Kilda
#12
Nic Nat is denying reports that he has osteitis pubis,
he's said that he's looking to line up Round 1.
Will you all still go with Cox?
 

Rowsus

Statistician
Joined
19 Mar 2012
Messages
29,137
Likes
64,904
AFL Club
Melbourne
#13
Nic Nat is denying reports that he has osteitis pubis,
he's said that he's looking to line up Round 1.
Will you all still go with Cox?
To be completely honest, I never took NicNat out of my line up. Years of false media speculation, and misleading reports from clubs lead me to take a "I'll believe it when I see it approach". I was hoping the bad press would continue right up to round 1, and so many Coaches would have mentally committed to leaving him out, that I'd have a good POD over a lot of them. If he is fit, he will be the biggest beneficiary of the new Ruck rules, and has the potential to become a supercoach monster!
 
Joined
19 Jun 2012
Messages
8,560
Likes
11,561
AFL Club
Collingwood
#14
To be completely honest, I never took NicNat out of my line up. Years of false media speculation, and misleading reports from clubs lead me to take a "I'll believe it when I see it approach". I was hoping the bad press would continue right up to round 1, and so many Coaches would have mentally committed to leaving him out, that I'd have a good POD over a lot of them. If he is fit, he will be the biggest beneficiary of the new Ruck rules, and has the potential to become a supercoach monster!
Rowsus, I may have been living under a rock. What are the new ruck rules you have spoken of a few times. Why will they effect a ruckmans' scoring so much?
 

Rowsus

Statistician
Joined
19 Mar 2012
Messages
29,137
Likes
64,904
AFL Club
Melbourne
#15
Rowsus, I may have been living under a rock. What are the new ruck rules you have spoken of a few times. Why will they effect a ruckmans' scoring so much?
Can't tell you verbatum, but they basically say that the Ruckmen are not allowed to make contact with each other before the contest. So where someone like Mummy worked on brute strength to gain position at boundary throw ins and non centre bounces, he won't be able to muscle anyone anymore. The contest would seem to belong to the tall guys with a leap. Not sure there are many that can out leap and out reach NicNat. Really will be interested to see the umpires interpret this new rule. How do they decide who contacted who, if two Rucks merge at the contest, just before the ball is thrown in/bounced? *Cue ridiculous and controversial free kicks being paid here*
 
Joined
19 Jun 2012
Messages
8,560
Likes
11,561
AFL Club
Collingwood
#16
Can't tell you verbatum, but they basically say that the Ruckmen are not allowed to make contact with each other before the contest. So where someone like Mummy worked on brute strength to gain position at boundary throw ins and non centre bounces, he won't be able to muscle anyone anymore. The contest would seem to belong to the tall guys with a leap. Not sure there are many that can out leap and out reach NicNat. Really will be interested to see the umpires interpret this new rule. How do they decide who contacted who, if two Rucks merge at the contest, just before the ball is thrown in/bounced? *Cue ridiculous and controversial free kicks being paid here*
Thanks Rowsus. See what happens in the NAB I suppose. Is footy still a contact sport? Maybe umpires will now use the umpires' call of 'Contact' in netball to award a free at ruck duels.
 

Mame

Rising Star Nominee
Joined
23 May 2012
Messages
185
Likes
8
AFL Club
Collingwood
#17
Can't tell you verbatum, but they basically say that the Ruckmen are not allowed to make contact with each other before the contest. So where someone like Mummy worked on brute strength to gain position at boundary throw ins and non centre bounces, he won't be able to muscle anyone anymore. The contest would seem to belong to the tall guys with a leap. Not sure there are many that can out leap and out reach NicNat. Really will be interested to see the umpires interpret this new rule. How do they decide who contacted who, if two Rucks merge at the contest, just before the ball is thrown in/bounced? *Cue ridiculous and controversial free kicks being paid here*
I think the impact of these ruck changes are over-hyped. The rule is that ruckmen at around-the-ground ball-ups and throw-ins will not be able to make contact until the ball leaves the umpire's hand.

All they have to do is stand a couple of centimetres away from each other before the ball up and then initiate contact. The run of jumping rucks can still be blocked and if anything the heavier blokes get slightly more momentum up for the clash.
 

Batters31

100 Games Club
Joined
24 Jul 2012
Messages
682
Likes
30
AFL Club
Port Adelaide
#18
Can't tell you verbatum, but they basically say that the Ruckmen are not allowed to make contact with each other before the contest. So where someone like Mummy worked on brute strength to gain position at boundary throw ins and non centre bounces, he won't be able to muscle anyone anymore. The contest would seem to belong to the tall guys with a leap. Not sure there are many that can out leap and out reach NicNat. Really will be interested to see the umpires interpret this new rule. How do they decide who contacted who, if two Rucks merge at the contest, just before the ball is thrown in/bounced? *Cue ridiculous and controversial free kicks being paid here*
I think you underestimate Mummy here Rowsus. The ruck rules will prevent someone like Mummy from smashing into Nic Nat and grounding him until the ball leaves the umpires hand but the reverse also applies.

Mummy has a huge tank, it is what allows him to make so many contests. If mummy takes up position at the boundary throw in or ball up he only has to retain position for the amount of time it takes the ball to travel through the air. With the exception of Nic Nat, maybe Ryder (i'm not convinced that 1. he will ruck that much and 2. he has any idea what tactics are) there are not alot of people that can jump over him. Being one of the bigger and smarter (relative term when applied to ruckmen) guys he may benefit.
 
Joined
9 Mar 2012
Messages
10,810
Likes
16,193
AFL Club
Adelaide
#19
*Cue ridiculous and controversial free kicks being paid here*
I can see the NAB cup being a dogs breakfast with this rule coming in, can only hope the umpires get their interpretations sorted and the players get used to it by round one.
 
Top