Mason Cox...showing some promise

[TradeDraft]

Bit on Cox at the Start:

 

[Mateyman]

Not sure any of the younger players will respect him or look to him for training standards - they'll get that from the likes of Pendlebury, Ball, Beams - blokes they look up to for what they have achieved on the field. They also won't be looking to seek advice on footy or for him to be patting them on the back to try get them up and about if they are having a poor game cause they'll be thinking along the lines of "what would you know anyway"....
Having watched a significant amount of junior football and then state league football over the past 15 years I'd rather the Category B list be focused more on recruiting players who are 25+ who have worked their guts out for 10+ years and haven't been given an opportunity but through sheer persistence have earnt a spot on a list. Rather than just gifting a spot to someone who has no idea of how to play the game and ends up just wasting time, resources and effort but he's athletic so lets see what we can do with him.
Anyone whose watched Caolan Mooney at VFL level can see he has very little understanding of the game and his skills under pressure are deplorable. He's been on the list using up valuable coaching development time from other young footballers for how long now and still tries to handball a 20 meter handball to the leading forward at least once a game, gets run down from behind regularly, shows no peripheral vision, still doesn't expect to be tackled from chasing players, etc .... Or you could use Ben Richmond as an example of coming from another sport and being all but useless - but because he could jump in basketball he gets a chance...
As I said i'd rather those chances be given to 25+ year olds than to international media story's / highlight reels.

You realise that the whole point of the category B list is that it cannot be used for this?

 

[ladderleader]

Hope he put some Muscle on before he comes back to Aus

Light boned

 

[TradeDraft]

Light boned

How do you know he is Light Boned

 

[Pie eyed]

Wrong, the answer is 11%

13% actually.
Everyone knows that.

 

[blaze036]

13% actually.
Everyone knows that.

Oops forgot to carry the 1

 

[MAGPIE2013]

take that wce. we have a larger COX than you.

 

[jackcass]

How do you know he is Light Boned

It was a joke Dave.

 

[Hva sher a]

He was about 25 when he was recruited. But he was a completely different scenario.
He was a professional rugby player, had competed at an elite level, and had represented his country in international games. He had a very natural talent with the ball, he picked up the sport easily. He was already built tough and used to the rigors of a full contact sport. It took him about 18 months to settle in to the game.
You can't compare that to a tall lanky college level basketballer, never played a full contact sport, never tackled or been tackled, who is obviously not good enough to make it in the sport of his choice so looking overseas at a different opportunity. It's a vast difference.

• Pyke did represent Canada but with due respect to the Canucks they are hardly elite.
• While Cox hasn't "made it" in his chosen sport, playing rugby for Canada is hardly comparable to playing NBA.
• While you don't tackle in basketball you could hardly say it isn't a contact sport. Standing under the ring, waiting for the opposition to lay-up takes some courage.
• I prefer to look at the positives that basketball can bring - lateral awareness, good hand skills etc. It didn't seem to hurt Pendles. Or Dean Brogan who played a similar position.
• Pyke was a natural talent with the ball but how do you know Cox isn't? Were you at the combine?

I agree it will take him some time to pick up the game but so what? Witts is only starting to string matches together and there are other local talents we nursed and developed from a young age who never made it anyway- Guy Richards. I say we take the punt on Cox - its low risk and high upside.

 

[TradeDraft]

It was a joke Dave.

From South Park?

 

[TradeDraft]

• Pyke did represent Canada but with due respect to the Canucks they are hardly elite.
• While Cox hasn't "made it" in his chosen sport, playing rugby for Canada is hardly comparable to playing NBA.
• While you don't tackle in basketball you could hardly say it isn't a contact sport. Standing under the ring, waiting for the opposition to lay-up takes some courage.
• I prefer to look at the positives that basketball can bring - lateral awareness, good hand skills etc. It didn't seem to hurt Pendles. Or Dean Brogan who played a similar position.
• Pyke was a natural talent with the ball but how do you know Cox isn't? Were you at the combine?

I agree it will take him some time to pick up the game but so what? Witts is only starting to string matches together and there are other local talents we nursed and developed from a young age who never made it anyway- Guy Richards. I say we take the punt on Cox - its low risk and high upside.

Spot On - Not much Risk with Cox. If he is Good Enough he be on the Senior List in his 3rd Year. But IF he comes good he could become Unstoppable the Saindlands does with his Massive Height

 

[TradeDraft]

yeh i realise the category B list is for clubs to waste time, money and resources on players that will never be any good (or 1 in 200 odd) I'm saying that's what I think the category B list should be used for - Category B should be mature age rookies Category A should be younger rookies. There's plenty of blokes in SANFL and some in VFL that would be awesome to have on a category B list and much more value to the AFL and the clubs cause they can actually play it's just taken them a little longer to mature or maybe just they haven't been given a chance by a recruiter! As it is the Category B list with "international players" is all just the AFL trying to make the sport have some kind of relevance to the rest of the world when in reality this is and always just an Australian game - watched by Australians and ex-pats.

Cat B is more for Promoting AFL around the World

 

[blaze036]

yeh i realise the category B list is for clubs to waste time, money and resources on players that will never be any good (or 1 in 200 odd) I'm saying that's what I think the category B list should be used for - Category B should be mature age rookies Category A should be younger rookies. There's plenty of blokes in SANFL and some in VFL that would be awesome to have on a category B list and much more value to the AFL and the clubs cause they can actually play it's just taken them a little longer to mature or maybe just they haven't been given a chance by a recruiter! As it is the Category B list with "international players" is all just the AFL trying to make the sport have some kind of relevance to the rest of the world when in reality this is and always just an Australian game - watched by Australians and ex-pats.

Hine think it's not a waste of time... so you're wrong.

In Hine we trust.

The normal rookie list is for mature age state leaguers

 

[jackcass]

Hine think it's not a waste of time... so you're wrong.

In Hine we trust.

The normal rookie list is for mature age state leaguers

Exactly, up to 6 of them at every club. And just how many of these mature aged recruits have gone on to have AFL careers. JPod and Barlow type success is still rare. Dwyer and Martin remain fringe players at our club but may yet secure a first 22 spot. Frost and Oxley may do better but they were hardly mature aged.

 

[Lefthanded]

I don't want to sound overly negative but I have to play the devils advocate regarding this signing.

I am a bit suspicious

If he really does have the potential everyone says he does then why would he come to Australia. We all know that AFL players get paid peanuts compared to what is on offer in the USA. A mediocre player in Baseball, Basketball or Football there gets way more than what he will earn here.

Some play for money (eg DT) others sign for less to play for success, fame, with their mates or other reasons. Cox already gotten a lot of exposure (& people looking up to him in Australia) so doesn't do the ego any harm. Hopefully he craves success more than anything and Pies would help him find an engineering job too I imagine. Hine sees potential so I'm happy.

 

[popin]

Has he started training yet? If so, guy's who are popping down to training tell me in September how much he's kicking has improved out of 10? Analyse him every 4 months for first two years is fair to see how he is tracking.
Coming from two sports that use body position with out pushing with he's hands helps him in he's afl journey with being an athletic freak for he's size. At the age of 23 let's hope he doe's learn how to kick good with penetration and come's along in leaps and bounds.

 

[TradeDraft]

Has he started training yet? If so, guy's who are popping down to training tell me in September how much he's kicking has improved out of 10? Analise him every 4 months for first two years is fair to see how he is tracking.
Coming from two sports that use body position with out pushing with he's hands helps him in he's afl journey with being an athletic freak for he's size. At the age of 23 let's hope he doe's learn how to kick good with penetration and come's along in leaps and bounds.

Starts August.

He is not so Simmlar to Nic Nat, as he can Jump over anyone and skills are bit awards and reading of the Play as not great.

So Mason does not have to be Fantastic to get Possible Games

 

[TradeDraft]

So that's why he's being paid 122% more than the average rookie! Compensation for pain and suffering

Sorry popin couldn't resist

We Payed extra because he has Insane Athleticism for a 211cm Man

 

[Ramere]

You've gotta think long term with these guys.

• Train him up & get 100 games into him
• shack him up with an elite netballer
• hope he pumps out the boys
• they'll be freakishly tall elite athletes
• they'll grow up playing the game in the juniors
• we'll pick 'em up under f/s.

Naturally they would have gone no 1 in the draft if available so it will be a steal. We'll be a mile in front!!!
Patience is a virtue my friends...

 

[TheFreshBanana]

You've gotta think long term with these guys.

• Train him up & get 100 games into him
• shack him up with an elite netballer
• hope he pumps out the boys
• they'll be freakishly tall elite athletes
• they'll grow up playing the game in the juniors
• we'll pick 'em up under f/s.

Naturally they would have gone no 1 in the draft if available so it will be a steal. We'll be a mile in front!!!
Patience is a virtue my friends...

Mate you've been smoking the

 

[Wooljay]

You've gotta think long term with these guys.

• Train him up & get 100 games into him
• shack him up with an elite netballer
• hope he pumps out the boys
• they'll be freakishly tall elite athletes
• they'll grow up playing the game in the juniors
• we'll pick 'em up under f/s.

Naturally they would have gone no 1 in the draft if available so it will be a steal. We'll be a mile in front!!!
Patience is a virtue my friends...

This is long term thinking and I endorse it. This is some Yao Ming style eugenics.

Start him as the sub in 100 games, minimal impact and they still count.

 

[pugsville]

International already 24, tall man but not a strong monster more skinny. Yup quick and agile but with a lot to learn. All the best to him but these international projects are a of a punt. Obliviously we all collingwood players to reach their best. But this guy has a lot of learning and work in front of him.

 

[blaze036]

I don't believe Derek Hine and his team would flush several hundred thousand dollars down the toilet if this kid was so incredibly unlikely to make it.

He has a salary over 100k and we have paid good money to send recruiters to the other side of the world... Would only do that if he was a decent chance of being something special.

 

[Kilmo]

International already 24, tall man but not a strong monster more skinny. Yup quick and agile but with a lot to learn. All the best to him but these international projects are a of a punt. Obliviously we all collingwood players to reach their best. But this guy has a lot of learning and work in front of him.

I'm getting on him for the Brownlow next year.

 

[Lefthanded]

You've gotta think long term with these guys.

• Train him up & get 100 games into him
• shack him up with an elite netballer
• hope he pumps out the boys
• they'll be freakishly tall elite athletes
• they'll grow up playing the game in the juniors
• we'll pick 'em up under f/s.

Naturally they would have gone no 1 in the draft if available so it will be a steal. We'll be a mile in front!!!
Patience is a virtue my friends...

Like your thinking but would replace netballer with basketballer (or expand to include)