Retiring West Coast great Dean Cox will be remembered as the ruckman of his generation

RETIRING West Coast great Dean Cox will be remembered as the prototypical ruckman of his generation, writes Mark Robinson

Generic portrait images of West Coast Eagle's ruckman Dean Cox.

DEAN Cox was the ruckman of his generation.

Like Anthony Koutoufides before him, the athletic Cox was supposed to be the prototype of the ruckman for the 21st Century.

He was, but such was the rare qualities of Cox - a ruckman who could play midfield - very few big men were able to influence games like Cox did.

He was the second best ruckman of the past 35 years.

Essendon’s Simon Madden played 378 games, kicked 575 goals and amassed 5195 hit outs.

Cox, who announced he would be retiring at the end of the season, has played 286 games, kicked 167 games and is attributed with 6534 hit outs.

Cox was a rare player. He could contest the centre bounce and then become a link player through the midfield and it wasn’t uncommon for him to finish a game with 25 possessions.

He was similar in performance to two Brownlow Medallists in Peter Moore and Jim Stynes, players who could run and carry the ball.

Clearly, Cox’s ability to kick the ball on both feet - and with penetration - set him apart from the other two.

It is rare talent for a 203cm ruckman.

Dean Cox celebrates winning the 2006 premiership. Picture: Colleen Petch

While Madden and Cox head the list, the top five ruckmen of the past 35 years would include Stynes, Moore, and then a battle royale between Adelaide’s Shaun Rehn, former Hawk and Bomber Paul Salmon and Carlton’s Justin Madden.

Cox will be remembered as an individual and also remembered for being a part of perhaps the greatest starting centre-square four in the history game: Cox, Chris Judd, Ben Cousins and Daniel Kerr.

What breathtaking group that was.

Cox’ standing among modern-day ruckmen is absolute.

“Congratulations to Dean Cox on an outstanding career. Revolutionised the role of the ruckman. The best I’ve seen play our great game,’’ Geelong’s Hamish McIntosh said.

Dean Cox takes on his biggest ruck rival Aaron Sandilands. Picture: Bohdan Warchomij

Few, if any, would argue against that.

Former Eagles coach John Worsfold was recently asked who was the greatest player he coached over 12 years.

“If I had to pick one, I’d lean towards Coxy,’’ Worsfold said. “I’d lean towards the influence he’s had on games over such a long period of time, not just because he’s taller than everyone else and he taps the ball well, but he kicks the ball as well as most midfielders and he gets possessions up there with the mid-tier midfielders in the game.

“So he plays that dual role and has been outstanding.”

His future was a topic of discussion from about Round 5 and in preparation for retirement, Cox undertook a ruck coaching role at the Eagles.

Dean Cox with his wife Kerry and daughter Charlotte after his retirement announcement.

It’s a passion, he said.

“I always said I would not keep playing simply to reach a particular number of games and while it would have been nice to be the first player from this great club to play 300 games, the time is right to hand over the baton,’’ he said.

“I want to play out the season, but I am ready to make the transition into a coaching role.’’

Eagles coach Adam Simpson declared Cox the player might be matched by Cox the coach.

“I believe he is ready to transition into coaching,’’ he said. “We have already seen the impact he has had in a coaching role with the younger ruckmen and he has so much knowledge to share.

“He can have just as big an impact as a coach as he has had as a player and that’s exciting for the club.”

GOING THE JOURNEY

Age: 32

Height: 203cm

Drafted: Pick No.28 in 2000 rookie draft

Debut: Round 2, 2001, v Sydney

Games: 286 for West Coast

Best and Fairest: 2008

All-Australian: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012

Premiership: 2006

Originally published as Retiring West Coast great Dean Cox will be remembered as the ruckman of his generation