Essendon great Matthew Lloyd expects young bomber Nik Cox to take out this season’s Rising Star award.
While he’s yet to receive a weekly nomination, the budding star has quickly found his feet with some impressive performances in his first AFL season.
The 19-year-old kicked an important goal in Essendon’s shock upset win over West Coast on Saturday night, showing glimpses throughout of what he could become going forward.
Speaking on Channel Nine’s Sunday Footy Show, Lloyd couldn’t believe Cox hadn’t been nominated at this stage of the year.
“It’s amazing that at Round 11 (he hasn’t been nominated),” Lloyd said.
“He’s the best player of the season in terms of all these names, and he’s still not been nominated.
“I think he (Cox) wins it, (Errol) Gulden, (Braeden) Campbell and (Chad) Warner – the first three – they’ve dropped off, and he’s got (Lachlan) Sholl covered.”
While Cox is yet to be officially nominated, Lloyd called him his “favourite” to take out the award and predicted he’d finally get recognition this week.
“I know Luke Jackson may be a star, but he (Cox) has had a better season than him,” Lloyd added.
“It’s amazing, he has to get it (this week), and I still think he’d be my favourite to win it.”
Cox has featured in all 11 games at AFL level, kicking seven goals and averaging more than 12 disposals per game.
"I think he wins it."@MatthewLloyd18 believes Nik Cox will win this year's Rising Star award, and can't believe he hasn't been nominated yet.#9AFLSFS | Watch @channel9 pic.twitter.com/xHFaNdvPSz
— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) May 30, 2021