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Cox v Gawn
- Thread starter Happy Mastenator
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nickcat0
Team Captain
To be honest I'm not a fan of individual awards in a team game. If a player wants individual awards, he should go and play tennis.
Blackas87
Brownlow Medallist
Don’t think players aim for individual awards, but they are awarded to recognise who the best players are.
I'd pick Cox if starting a new team but not by much, got to watch almost every game of his. I've said before that I had no idea of the impact that Gawn has on the field when not in the play (similar to McGovern when prior to 2019).
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nickcat0
Team Captain
Fair point .......
I think Gawn v Cox is a good discussion. I'm still going for Cox, but if Gawn were to keep up his present standards for a few more years, then I could change my mind.
If you use AA teams as one measure, its a decent guide of top level dominance as either the best or close to best ruck in the game for that season.
Currently it's 6 for Cox and 5 for Gawn, so they've clearly both been exceptional rucks for a long time.
This is one that I reckon can only truly be answered in retrospective when their careers are both done.
Gawn gets the benefit of hot flavour of the month and recency bias, whereas Cox has the benefit of having finished his career and more accolades and finals performances.
The only fair comparison is in a few years whenever Gawn is retired.
IMO he has every chance to edge out Cox especially if he can maintain his recent form.
Currently it's 6 for Cox and 5 for Gawn, so they've clearly both been exceptional rucks for a long time.
This is one that I reckon can only truly be answered in retrospective when their careers are both done.
Gawn gets the benefit of hot flavour of the month and recency bias, whereas Cox has the benefit of having finished his career and more accolades and finals performances.
The only fair comparison is in a few years whenever Gawn is retired.
IMO he has every chance to edge out Cox especially if he can maintain his recent form.
00Stinger
100 - 7
Gawn closing/over taking very quickly
yyou
Norm Smith Medallist
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Gawn by a comfortable margin & before I get accused of anti-wc bias (which is true) I reckon Naitanui is better than Cox was.
I prefer a ruck who gets his hands dirty.
Cox was good for dreamteam back in the day, however.
I prefer a ruck who gets his hands dirty.
Cox was good for dreamteam back in the day, however.
A Cut Above
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The answer is GAWN and if you disagree you need to start watching more Melbourne games.
- Thread starter
- #60
The answer is cox. If you disagree you need to watch more eagles games from 2005 onwards.
In all seriousness they are very similar in ranking and can’t go wrong taking either
- Apr 12, 2014
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I think if Gawn matches him in AAs and wins another premiership he inches ahead, but as for now I have them pretty even.
00Stinger
100 - 7
Cox was a massively dominate big man, best I have seen. The fact that Gawn is in the conversation is massive
Can't go wrong either way imo
I have always been Cox is ahead but geez Gawn is making it close, very close
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- #64
But I already watch them all.
- Thread starter
- #65
Both should also see there careers extended thanks to an extremely talented high draft pick coming in to help do the heavy lifting as they age.
Blackas87
Brownlow Medallist
Another great year for Max getting his 6th All Australian matching with Cox
Peak clearly Cox. He kicked more goals and averaged more disposals. Twice averaged over 20+ disposals and 3 times kicked over 20 goals. Gawn has never done either. Cox took game winning/changing marks more often. Better skills more reliable kick for goal. Gawn will win more hitouts and is a fair bit taller than Cox, but even then they werent as decisive in terms of true advantage hitouts. Judd Cousins and Kerr were much more regularly on the fly with the pill down their throat from stoppages than petracca and oliver. I actually think Nic nat is the best tap ruckman Ive seen but Gawn is the best of the last 10 years. Cox the best ive seen (never saw Madden). Im sure Demons supporters would even take Petracca oliver over juddy and Cousins too
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- #68
Nope.
- Apr 29, 2016
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I don't think Cox has every played a game like Gawn did in last years prelim. But Cox had such good foot skills and ball finding ability.
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Lampers
Norm Smith Medallist
Some high grade cherry picking and minimising where Gawn is undisputedly superior.
Gawn a fair bit taller? 4cm. Most of Cox’s contemporary rucks were around the 200cm mark (Jolly 200, Ottens 202, Jamar 198) with Sandilands the exception at 211. Rucks are taller on average now. Cox at 204 enjoyed a similar height advantage against most opponents as Gawn at 208 does now.
Cox taking more game winning / changing marks… spare me. How many uncontested link marks are game winning or changing?
Cox was an excellent kick and link player and Gawn will never be close to Cox in that regard. Cox also had one season where he kicked over a goal per game, and that was at a similar age to what Gawn is now.
Gawn has Cox covered everywhere else, including leadership. And it’s not close. Gawn has potentially five more seasons in him to go further ahead.
KissKiss
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I might have to change my vote now. Since I posted this he did lead his team to the premiership and racked up another AA.
- Thread starter
- #72
Without comment on the actual comparison, the bold tells me you didn't watch much of Dean Cox in action. The amount of times he stepped up with clutch marks, and contested marks when required, was incredible. He wasn't just a link player.
They are both all time greats. I'd imagine West Coast fans will stick with Cox, Melbourne fans stick with Gawn. I'm much more comfortable having a comparing these two as compared to when Pies fans were trying to compare Grundy to either, even before his injury issues as I don't think he's ever been as good as Cox and Gawn.
Gawn still 120 odd games behind Cox's total games played. Being 204cm and travelling interstate every second week and still hitting 290 games is a massive achievement in of itself.
Lampers
Norm Smith Medallist
You’re right, I didn’t watch all 290 of Cox’s games. Just like you haven’t watched all of Gawn’s 179 games.
I don’t think being tall and getting on planes lots is relevant.
- Thread starter
- #74
That post literally said nothing about Gawn other than he was good…
Even though it was only given as an aside, you’re obviously not tall if you think playing 290 games out of WA at 203cm isn’t a good effort.
Lampers
Norm Smith Medallist
Being tall and travelling on planes does not make someone a better player.
I am tall, too tall for economy seats. Does that now make me a better footballer?
