Cox is a big game player who got the job done in three finals last year. Without him we would not have won the flag. I wouldn't put much weight on his performance in a February intra-club hit out.
Could also be load management to an extent as well. He'sn older player so prone to niggling injuries. What's the point in having him go hell for leather this early. Cox has a laconic manner about him but he is professional in his standards. If he wasn't you'd think Fly would be on his back. And his whole philosophy is about repaying Fly.
When the games meant something last year, Cameron got ragdolled by the likes of Gawn etc. Cox gave them a lot more problems because of his height & he was harder to move aside. Don't write off Cox yet. Take you back to 5 minutes left in the GF. Cox jumps right over McInerney & lays it down to Naicos. Cameron can't jump over those guys. Sometimes we are prone to putting too much emphasis on pre seasons. That has been multiplied this year for some reason. There is definitely a place for Cameron in our team. But Cox for me is still the go to ruckman in our side.
I think we'll see DC has back that mantel now. He's pre-season has been exceptional. I think we underestimate how the knee injury last year affected him last year.
I wouldn't be worried about Cox either. He's never been a particularly strong trainer from what I've seen.
I'm sure he'll play enough, and has his time in the ruck, but my point is that DC has regained the #1 ruck mantel back this pre-season. He's been the best ruck all pre-season. And around the ground.
I also think Cameron could be the more dominant ruckman for us this year.
Like I said Jen & no offence intended here. Sometimes we put too much emphasis on pre season training form. I think they will use Cameron in the ruck early in the season as they like Cox in the forward line as well. But I bet the likes of Gawn & McInerney & even English would much prefer opposing Cameron to Cox at centre bounces & stoppages. When the real stuff starts we will have a better read on this. I'm also a little excited by Fin & Reef's form, but until they show this in real games for 4 points against desperate opposition it really doesn't mean diddly.
That's the plan, I'm sure.
Wonder where Teakle would end up. Still hoped we'd invite him to play with our VFL side.
Yeah. No word yet. But he would have to make up his mind soon, and not miss training wherever he goes.
That would definitely be the plan. I would imagine Fly and the coaches have had that conversation internally, manage Cox around those games against key opponents (Gawn, O Mac, Flynn rtc) and blood some games into Begg and Steene without overloading them. Big Mase knows he towards the end of the journey as a player (he's said it himself). So the club knows they need to prepare for the post-Cox era.
If the plan was to take him in the MSD, he probably would.
I agree really strongly with what you are saying. We get absolutely A1 info about the preseason from Jen2310 backed up by Apples , Warburton Lad and other who write great reports so as a group we know far more about whats going on even compared to your average fanatical non BF Collingwood supporter. It does colour us a bit. For senior players like Cox and Cameron the only way one can elevate above the other is by performance in the real H&A matches. Preseason is to get fit, understand plans and roles but its not going to change their position in the team based on intraclub performance.
Yes, it's different of course, one is AFL and one is VFL..but it was based on the premise they would take him in the MSD. God forbid, we do get a LTI before MSD, and I'm not hoping for one, but we all know it's a possibility.
Was there VFL training this morning?
