Player Watch Mason Cox

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We have to keep Mason. Seeing him take marks and kick goals today - he has something going on, to complement his extreme height. While I question his innate footy sense, he may still make it without this.
Yes we absolutely should.

He's not Grundy, but he's a terrific second string ruck. Terrific for depth if Grundy is out injured.

That and his point of difference is his height. If he leaps even one foot nobody can reach him (besides Howe who is all ours.)

Also, Kicks simply (there's a great lesson there) and neatly for goal.

No star, but terrific depth, back up, and who knows might just get to be quite all right.
 

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didaksrightfoot

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Yes we absolutely should.

He's not Grundy, but he's a terrific second string ruck. Terrific for depth if Grundy is out injured.

That and his point of difference is his height. If he leaps even one foot nobody can reach him (besides Howe who is all ours.)

Also, Kicks simply (there's a great lesson there) and neatly for goal.

No star, but terrific depth, back up, and who knows might just get to be quite all right.
This.

I don't think Mason is good enough to be a regular-22 player... to do that he would need to be consistent Fwd-Ruck who can sit on 1.5goals/game and, more importantly, not be a liability when the ball hits the deck or is going the other way. He's still got a way to go to be that guy - but given his improvement, there is potential.

But he has done what I was hoping from these two games - shown that he's useful to keep on the list to fill in if Grundy is ever out - and negates the need to chase a veteran ruck for that backup role. That reason, and the ability to use him occasionally as a fwd/ruck means I think keeping him (on around 300k-odd?) is good list management.
 

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People are quick to jump on Cox when he plays poorly, but he deserves some credit for today's game. 43 hitouts, 6 marks and 2.1 is exactly what you want from a giant ruckman like him. He might not have gotten a lot of the ball but he made the most of his opportunities today.
Career high hit outs & tackles, equal career high marks & clearances. A much better performance this week; he clearly likes playing Geelong.
 

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This.

I don't think Mason is good enough to be a regular-22 player... to do that he would need to be consistent Fwd-Ruck who can sit on 1.5goals/game and, more importantly, not be a liability when the ball hits the deck or is going the other way. He's still got a way to go to be that guy - but given his improvement, there is potential.

But he has done what I was hoping from these two games - shown that he's useful to keep on the list to fill in if Grundy is ever out - and negates the need to chase a veteran ruck for that backup role. That reason, and the ability to use him occasionally as a fwd/ruck means I think keeping him (on around 300k-odd?) is good list management.
Nicely summed up.

If we made finals, yes I know, but if we did and Grundy was injured, Cox fills in nicely.

So he should be kept. His salary seems fine on that basis.
 

frizzle

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Think the biggest thing about Cox is how his marking is developing. Will only improve from here and can kick goals unlike almost all ruckmen

Hasn't been playing the game long & still will improve. Is already better than Witts was in my opinion. He is a keeper.
 

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robertg22

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Really liked his game. Always thought he'd be better suited to this one than Port, Ryder jumped all over him. His hands were great. Wish Grundy could mark like Cox.

Did well, good on him.

Does he make way for Grundy next week, do we play them both or do we tell Grundy to go on holidays a week early?
Got to try and find a way to play both of them IMO.. especially worth trying in a dead rubber.
 

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He had a really good game. He put in a performance that was better than many teams first choice rucks are capable of. He had 46 hitouts, 6 contested marks, 2 goals and 8 tackles. He's also been really handy sitting in the hole late in quarters.
 

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He had a really good game. He put in a performance that was better than many teams first choice rucks are capable of. He had 46 hitouts, 6 contested marks, 2 goals and 8 tackles. He's also been really handy sitting in the hole late in quarters.
Those are enormous stats from a ruckman and mirror his VFL output.

I give him a huge tick today. Definitely a keeper, even as a backup. That's a huge positive for a guy who had never played the game that we got for an international rookie pick. If thats all he ever becomes then we have already won.

Grundy is clearly still ahead, but for cox to get into the regular 22 then he needs to keep working on his forward craft. We can model him on Rory lobbe i reckon.

The issue is going to be having mids that kick to his advantage.
 
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Still got a lot to learn with ruck work craft in tapping to advantage but it does help if you can win the tap. We know he can do that....

Definitely a keeper. Still unconvinced but his around the ground game and aerobic tank has definitely improved.

Prefer him as a ruck who can play forward to allow Moore to be a stay at home specialist forward. Moore has been clunking some really strong contested marks but they are wasted on the wing. Grundy and cox still potentially could be the right combination in the ruck with Moore as the third option.

If cox makes it then we have a genuine free swing to play Reid at either end without stuffing up the structure.
 

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Still got a lot to learn with ruck work craft in tapping to advantage but it does help if you can win the tap. We know he can do that....

Definitely a keeper. Still unconvinced but his around the ground game and aerobic tank has definitely improved.

Prefer him as a ruck who can play forward to allow Moore to be a stay at home specialist forward. Moore has been clunking some really strong contested marks but they are wasted on the wing. Grundy and cox still potentially could be the right combination in the ruck with Moore as the third option.

If cox makes it then we have a genuine free swing to play Reid at either end without stuffing up the structure.
There's no such thing as a wasted contested mark. Part of what's made Moore so valuable recently is him getting on his bike and taking those marks up the ground, same as what Cloke used to do.
 
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Moore should be taking more of his contested marks inside 50 where he can have a set shot for goal. Much like Cloke used to do.

That won't preclude him from running upfield from time to time, especially when cox is resting forward.

But it's pointless asking Moore to ruck if cox is able to prove he is best 22. And the debate about whether Moore should ruck is dependant upon cox proving that. That's s question for 2018.

As for this week I'd put Reid in cotton wool for the year and bring Grundy back to see how Grundy cox and Moore work in tandem.
 

Apex36

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Moore should be taking more of his contested marks inside 50 where he can have a set shot for goal. Much like Cloke used to do.

That won't preclude him from running upfield from time to time, especially when cox is resting forward.

But it's pointless asking Moore to ruck if cox is able to prove he is best 22. And the debate about whether Moore should ruck is dependant upon cox proving that. That's s question for 2018.

As for this week I'd put Reid in cotton wool for the year and bring Grundy back to see how Grundy cox and Moore work in tandem.
We've already seen how Grundy Moore and Cox work in tandem several times. Trying the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity. Yesterday Cox proved his best position is as number 1 ruck who can float forward and kick goals. He'll never be a genuine forward.
 
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We've already seen how Grundy Moore and Cox work in tandem several times. Trying the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity. Yesterday Cox proved his best position is as number 1 ruck who can float forward and kick goals. He'll never be a genuine forward.
It's his second year in the system. It's way too early to be making unequivocal claims that he and Grundy can't work in tandem. Its not a stretch to assume a team cant have two key forwards and two rucks (one of whom as a minimum can kick a goal). I fact thats the lineup we had in 2010

I'm still on the fence about cox and where he fits in ( if at all) but next week is a good opportunity to test the waters again in a dead rubber.

Grundy/cox is an upgrade on Grundy/witts because at least cox can kick a goal .
 
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