Post BF Upgrade Feedback - Click Here

Remove this Banner Ad

Player Watch Mason Cox (Delisted 2025)

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sloth
  • Start date Start date
  • Tagged users Tagged users None

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Thanks for the memories big fella. You are a Collingwood immortal.

Who can forget after we were headed in the 2023 GF it was you who won the tap out to Daicos, who got it to Pendles and ultimately resulted in JDG kicking the goal to put us back in front from which we were never headed again.
 
I am gutted that we didn't sign him on for 2026.
Thought the giant man still could provide back up.
Will never forget this guy.
A US basketballer/soccer player who learned AFL as a young adult.
In 2018 he played a Preliminary final which will live forever in our memory.
He had his cornea ripped, but didn't let that stop him from finding a way to keep playing.
Then in 2023 became a Premiership Pie.
In 2025, was critical in helping us to compete for the flag again.
I loved every minute of the ride.
 

Log in to remove this Banner Ad

IlovethePies said:
Hope we know what we are doing by letting Mason Cox go.
Who backs up next year in the ruck if DC goes down?
Click to expand...
Just as we survived when both went down in 2023? We have options. But they're putting some faith in Oscar to come of age, thats for sure. Buller/Oscar can rotate that role if they had to.
But frampton can ruck if needed.
 
JLC said:
Looks that way. Time for Steene and Smit to step up.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, Steene & Smit consistently struggle in the VFL team against more mature & bigger bodied opponents. Moreover did not the VFL coaching staff attempt to play Smit as a key defender for quite a few games in the 2025 season? I just do not see either or both of them making the grade at the AFL level. I hope that I am totally wrong but I fear that I will not be. God help us if Cameron ever went down with a serious injury. Goodnight & good luck.
 
I’m sorry he’s no longer at the club, but not sorry the club delisted him. Mason possessed a great work ethic. Mason was always one of the first to arrive on the training track and one of the last ones to leave. He was also generous of his time posing with young fans while their parents took photographs. As most here have stated, his most significant game was against Richmond in the 2018 preliminary final, where he individually tore apart the Richmond backline. He couldn’t repeat that performance in the GF against West Coast. However, he arrested our slide in the third quarter which gave us momentum going into the final quarter and if it wasn’t for Pendles playing injured in that game, Buckley would have been a premiership coach. Mason had to wait till 2023 to get his premiership medal and played a significant part of the win that day in the ruck. His transition from a tall forward who could relieve the pressure from the first ruckman, to a fully fledged ruckman/forward under [PLAYERCARD]Craig McRae[/PLAYERCARD] was a key cog in the transformation of Collingwood into a premiership contender. Injuries, in particular to his eyes, had an effect on his marking ability, which probably took away two years of his productive football career. He squeezed every bit of his body into his football career to a point where he had little else to give. His time was up. It’s time now for Steene and Smit to step up.
 
greening22 said:
Unfortunately, Steene & Smit consistently struggle in the VFL team against more mature & bigger bodied opponents. Moreover did not the VFL coaching staff attempt to play Smit as a key defender for quite a few games in the 2025 season? I just do not see either or both of them making the grade at the AFL level. I hope that I am totally wrong but I fear that I will not be. God help us if Cameron ever went down with a serious injury. Goodnight & good luck.
Click to expand...
Agree about Steene & Smit. Steene has upside but built slightly. He still needs more bulk to match other rucks. Smit is further behind and may well end up finding that spot as a defender to back-up Billy F. I’m not against them finishing Mason’s time - fabulous addition to the club over ~10 years but would have become a clogger in ‘26.

Would not surprise me if they have someone earmarked for a DFA or rookie spot to get us through another year or two…..because Cameron going down would be a disaster given the current list.
 
Frank Furters said:
Agree about Steene & Smit. Steene has upside but built slightly. He still needs more bulk to match other rucks. Smit is further behind and may well end up finding that spot as a defender to back-up Billy F. I’m not against them finishing Mason’s time - fabulous addition to the club over ~10 years but would have become a clogger in ‘26.

Would not surprise me if they have someone earmarked for a DFA or rookie spot to get us through another year or two…..because Cameron going down would be a disaster given the current list.
Click to expand...
Oscar has been getting stronger all season. I don't think he's slightly built.
Max Gawn isn't exactly bulky.
 
Frank Furters said:
Agree about Steene & Smit. Steene has upside but built slightly. He still needs more bulk to match other rucks. Smit is further behind and may well end up finding that spot as a defender to back-up Billy F. I’m not against them finishing Mason’s time - fabulous addition to the club over ~10 years but would have become a clogger in ‘26.

Would not surprise me if they have someone earmarked for a DFA or rookie spot to get us through another year or two…..because Cameron going down would be a disaster given the current list.
Click to expand...
Better off keeping Cox if they are just going to replace him with another DFA list clogger.

I think they’ll have their eyes to the future. Maybe target a longer term option in the draft or rookie draft.
 
Timmy from Thomastown said:
Better off keeping Cox if they are just going to replace him with another DFA list clogger.

I think they’ll have their eyes to the future. Maybe target a longer term option in the draft or rookie draft.
Click to expand...
O’Brien was a preferred option for many before he resigned. I watched the finals and if that is best available it is best to go young.
 

Remove this Banner Ad

Cox had some unbelievable games for Collingwood and was a pleasure to watch when up and about.

Good luck big fella.
 
Nothing could bring me to chant 'U-S-A!'

FFS.

But no doubting Cox's achievement and the impressive determination with which he chased his dream.

Bodes well for his next efforts.
 
Well done Coxy. Always a Collingwood premiership player.

I hope he ends up on the Geelong list.
 
WanderingDude said:
The club has released Cox and selected Steene as emergency multiple times in 2025. I think the supporters are going to need to catch up.
Click to expand...
True, but Steene’s match count is still 0. Emergency selections really don’t mean much - especially to an interstate born player with no career games - they’re basically a goodwill or encouragement gesture to 2 of the 3 weekly emergencies.

All I’m saying is they may need more back-up, as his body strength, based on a few views of him in the VFL, wasn’t there this year. He has the base talent (he also takes a good grab) and the club may have confidence that he will get to that position over summer, but will they still want another ruckman in the bank? After all McStay doesn’t ruck well, Frampton is needed in defence and Smit isn’t ready.
 
greening22 said:
Unfortunately, Steene & Smit consistently struggle in the VFL team against more mature & bigger bodied opponents. Moreover did not the VFL coaching staff attempt to play Smit as a key defender for quite a few games in the 2025 season? I just do not see either or both of them making the grade at the AFL level. I hope that I am totally wrong but I fear that I will not be. God help us if Cameron ever went down with a serious injury. Goodnight & good luck.
Click to expand...

To me it feels like the club are hedging their bets. Let's develop 2 and one will be good.

I think it's crazy to be developing 2 ruckman - when you can get a ready made one in the mid season draft should the need arise.

Who is our ruck coach?
 

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Kirby said:
Well done Coxy. Always a Collingwood premiership player.

I hope he ends up on the Geelong list.
Click to expand...
This would be awesome but almost no chance he continues his AFL journey.
 
I’d just like to back up what everyone else has said about [PLAYERCARD]Mason Cox[/PLAYERCARD].Thanks for your services to the club,Coxy.As Collingwood supporters you have given us so many great memories over the years.The 2018 preliminary final,where you took apart a very cocky Richmond side,the 2023 grand final,where your ruck work definitely helped us win the premiership.So many Queen’s birthday and Anzac Day games where you showed you were truly a big game player.

Your story as the first American to make it in the AFl is totally unique and one that you should be proud of,which I’m sure you are.Here’s to a happy returment,Mason,and to whatever you choose to do next with your life.
 
Jen2310 said:
Just as we survived when both went down in 2023? We have options. But they're putting some faith in Oscar to come of age, thats for sure. Buller/Oscar can rotate that role if they had to.
But frampton can ruck if needed.
Click to expand...
I'd really love to see our key forwards play as key forwards and nothing else. Billy is a much-needed key defender. We saw how undermanned we looked when he was out for that period and Dean tried to take that role. Reef still looked shaky in his brief stint as a third tall defender. I hope his second attempt is a success, but I think some are seeing something in Reef as a defender which I'm not sure is there. Time will tell.
 

Remove this Banner Ad

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Back
Top