Mason Cox weighing up future with Collingwood as Hawthorn and Richmond eye big man

MELBOURNE great David Schwarz says Mason Cox should leave Collingwood for more opportunity as the Pies face competition from a couple Melbourne clubs for the developing tall.

Mason Cox wants more regular senior game time. Pic: Michael Klein

COLLINGWOOD could face a fight to keep Mason Cox as rivals circle the 211cm big man.

Hawthorn and Richmond are both believed to have an interest in the American to help bolster their ruck-forward stocks.

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The Magpies have offered Cox a two-year deal and are confident he will continue to develop rapidly at the club after 17 goals from 11 games last season.

But Cox, 26, is eager for more senior game time and faces a big decision on whether to pursue a No.1 ruck-forward role at another club next year.

Cox is stuck behind No. 1 ruckman Brodie Grundy, who will reclaim the spot on Saturday against Melbourne and has signed a three-year contract extension.

It means Cox will likely assess his trade options in the coming weeks as the Hawks and Tigers scour the player market for versatile talls.

The uncertainty surrounding Nathan Buckley’s position has also clouded Cox’s decision with the senior coach still in the dark about his own future beyond this season.

Melbourne great David Schwarz says Cox should leave the Pies for more opportunity in the ruck in another team. Schwarz said Cox was a better ruckman than key forward.

“His footy will become redundant at Collingwood on the back of Grundy coming back into the side,” Schwarz said on SEN.

“I think he’s a ruckman, I don’t think he’s a forward because he just doesn’t have the craft or the nous to play forward.

“And to get game time he’s going to have to go to a club that (has more opportunity).

“Grundy is a lock, he’s staying there.

“So Mason Cox, if he wants to play in the ruck, he’s not going to be doing it at Collingwood.

“I think he is a really competent ruckman. If he wants opportunities he may not get it at Collingwood because Grundy is locked and loaded.”

Dermott Brereton said Collingwood would get “something serious” in return for Cox at the trade table as an AFL-ready ruckman.

But Brereton said Grundy was limited in his ability as a forward.

“If he doesn’t mark it, and he’s probably only taking a couple of marks a game forward of the centre, he’s non-competitive when the ball is on the ground and that’s totally understandable (because of his height),” Brereton said.

Mason Cox impressed against the Cats at the weekend. Picture: Getty Images

Cox struggled to have an impact in the early part of the season as a key forward but has shown encouraging form in the ruck during Grundy’s suspension over the past fortnight.

The former American basketballer had 43 hit-outs, eight tackles, nine possessions and six marks in their 11-point loss to Geelong on Saturday at the MCG in one of the best games of his 19-match career.

But Grundy will resume the lead ruck role this weekend and has signed a $625,000 a year contract offer to lead the Magpies’ midfield until the end of 2020.

Grundy’s deal is expected to be announced this week.

The Pies can ill-afford to lose Cox after fighting off rival interest to secure him with pick 60 in the 2015 rookie draft.

Collingwood was caught short in the key forward department this year and has been forced to swing Ben Reid into attack to help support Darcy Moore.

Collingwood is also expected to make a strong play for Gold Coast spearhead Tom Lynch when the prized goalkicker becomes a free agent at the end of next year.

Cox has booted eight goals from eight senior matches this season.

Richmond wants a tall forward to combine with Jack Riewoldt, who has close links to Cox through former Collingwood development guru, Craig McRae, the Tigers’ VFL coach.

Hawthorn re-signed senior ruckman Ben McEvoy, 28, last week but the club’s back-up ruck options are led by out-of-favour ex-Tiger Tyrone Vickery, knee victim Jon Ceglar and rookie Jack Fitzpatrick.

Originally published as Mason Cox weighing up future with Collingwood as Hawthorn and Richmond eye big man