Mason Cox set to put in writing subsequent chapter of epic journey with Western Derby debut for Fremantle Dockers | UNW

He was once a gangly American soccer convert learning to kick a footy.

Then he became an unlikely finals hero for Collingwood, the biggest club in the land, and a loud and proud footy figure who said what he thinks and wasn’t afraid to make an enemy along the way.

Now Mason Cox is firming for a western derby club debut at Fremantle, just another chapter in one of the sport’s most remarkable stories.

Cox — added to Fremantle’s list in the off-season after he discarded in a shock move by the Magpies — is a strong chance to play his first game for the Dockers with Sean Darcy ruled out of their clash with West Coast with concussion.

He signed on a two-year deal, 12 years after he was first plucked out of a USA talent-spotting program by Collingwood.

Despite his skills and knowledge of the game being all but non-existent when he first signed, the 211cm one-time college basketballer went on to play 139 games for the Magpies and became a premiership player in 2023.

Despite dominant form in the WAFL for Peel Thunder, Cox has found senior opportunities hard to come by so far at his second club, with a ruck combination of Luke Jackson and Sean Darcy preferred.

Dockers coach Justin Longmuir always insisted Darcy was his No.1 ruck and he was given first crack a the role. But his concussion in their win over Collingwood on Friday could finally open the door.

In his capacity as an ambassador for the LifeChanger Foundation, Cox has built a personal relationship with its founder and former St Kilda coach Scott Watters.

Watters told The West Australian he had no doubt the 211cm ruckman would be prepared to make the most of his looming chance.

“He’s a really professional, well-prepared athlete. To do what he’s done, coming from another code, moving countries, you’ve got to be really organised, really disciplined, really professional,” he said.

“He knows the best thing that he can do is maintain form and selection pressure. His form at Peel has been exceptional. He looks healthy, he looks keen, he’s just waiting for an opportunity.

“He knows there’s potentially a grand final opportunity on the back of this. I would think it wouldn’t be too hard for Mason to stay motivated.”

For the better part of a decade, Ollie Eastland has not only faced off against the best ruckmen to have played in the WAFL. So when the Claremont superstar says Cox is among the toughest he’s ever done battle against, his words carry weight.

With coach Justin Longmuir watching on, the Collingwood premiership put forward a strong case to earn a spot in the side with another dominant display for the Thunder on Saturday afternoon.

Cox collected 18 disposals, 16 contested, six clearances, and 34 hit-outs in the 11-point defeat to Claremont at Revo Fitness Stadium.

Impressively, it came against Eastland, who is widely considered the best ruckman in the WAFL.

The Tiger has gone up against the likes of Darcy, Hawthorn’s Lloyd Meek, and even West Coast premiership big man Nathan Vardy, but says Cox was “one of the best” opponents he’d ever faced in his career.

“In the first quarter, I was a bit overawed by his height. I played him in the pre-season game, but today was another intensity,” he told The West Australian.

“They kicked to him a lot, he’s a great player, works really hard. I’ve got a lot of time for him, the way he plays his footy. I loved the battle today; it is always good to play against AFL ruckmen.

“I’ve played against Lloyd Meek when he was here (in the WAFL), obviously Sean Darcy last year, and they’ve all got different attributes.

“He (Cox) is right up there with his marking ability, his ability to go forward, his tap work, he’s one of the best I’ve come up against that’s for sure.”

Peel Thunder coach Adam Read paid tribute to Cox’s ability to play a selfless role despite an AFL berth on offer.

“Selfishly, I am happy to have him in the team. We won the clearance battle for the day, and he was a big part of that,” he said.

“His work-rate around the ground was impressive, and even some of the selfless stuff, he put a great block on early for Kyelan Sanders to kick a goal. He’s been brought into the team, which is fantastic.

“He’s been around long enough and is such a grounded kind of guy that he knows all the team needs from him is for him to play his role. You love your big men to play like big men, and in the first two weeks, he’s done that for us.”

Watters said the AFL’s newly-introduced ruck rules — which have also filtered down to the State league — suited Cox’s skill-set.

“He’s a jumper. He can still jump and leap, Mason, and he’s got a lot of reach,” he said.

“You would never say he was a bullocking ruckman. I think where he can use his reach and some of his athleticism – he’s got plenty of that – but the other string to his bow, he’s shown he can go forward and kick goals and hit the scoreboard. That’s something Sean Darcy’s never really done.

“They’re different animals, they’ve both got a role to play, and it’s going to be fascinating to see how the coaching staff manage that at selection was we move through this tougher middle part of the season and then, finally, how they refine it come finals time.”

Darcy will be sidelined for at least 12 days after entering concussion protocols, meaning he won’t be available until the Anzac Day clash against Carlton on April 25 at the earliest.

Fremantle could also decide to go with only the one ruckman in Luke Jackson, who starred in the second half of the thrilling win against Collingwood.

Jackson was quiet in the first half but changed the game in the third term, racking up eight disposals, six tackles, 12 hit-outs, and two clearances.

Channel 7 expert Kane Cornes said Jackson had shown he should be the sole ruckman going forward.

“Not that you wanted to see Sean Darcy leave the field in those circumstances, but it is Luke Jackson’s midfield,” he told AFL.com.au.

“He is one of the best rucks in the game, and to start the second term, I look up, and Luke Jackson is heading to full forward with the forwards.

“I know there’s Mason Cox, I know there’s Sean Darcy who you’ve made a big investment in but Luke Jackson is your ruck. He’s not a forward, he’s not a midfielder and there just a far more dangerous side when he plays that way.”

Watters said Fremantle may be best served by putting more ruck responsibility on Jackson when the finals come around, but Cox’s capability to play his part in their premiership push should not be underestimated.

“This would be an incredible way for him to bookend his AFL career, which is already a very unique story,” he said.

“He’s a very curious and quite a dilligent learner, I think that’s the thing I’ve really admired about Mason over the journey, and he’s got huge belief in himself. When he gets his chance, I’m sure he’ll grab it.”