Collingwood’s Mason Cox opens up about his serious eye injury and trade speculation
It’s been a wild off-season for Collingwood big man Mason Cox, who has been recovering from a serious eye injury while also being linked with a possible trade out of the Magpies.
Collingwood
Don't miss out on the headlines from Collingwood. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Collingwood forward Mason Cox has opened up on the serious eye injury that left him “legally blind” for a period of time during his recovery.
The American suffered a tear of the retina in his left eye in the Magpies’ win over the Gold Coast in early August.
The blow required three surgeries and left Cox spending 45 minutes of every hour lying on his back as part of his recovery.
Stream over 50 sports Live & On-Demand with KAYO SPORTS on your TV, computer, mobile or tablet. Just $25/month, no lock-in contract. Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming instantly >
“It was tough going for a month and a half or two months,” he told SEN.
“I was pretty much legally blind for a while. We’ve got to the point now where I’m almost back to 20-20.
“For a long time it was sitting in a dark room staring at the ceiling, there was not much going on in my life.”
After each of his surgeries, Cox would wake up with his eyes swollen shut.
It would take between two and three days for his vision to return.
The 28-year-old was unable to drive for six and half weeks and his only exercise was walking.
“Eventually I was able to go on one walk a day and then three walks a day and then I kind of gained eye sight in both of my eyes. The doctor said if you feel comfortable enough, you can start driving again.
“You take it (eye sight) for granted every day until you lose it.
“It was tough going for a while but we’ve come out the back of it and we’re doing a lot better.”
The eye injury has been only part of a wild off-season for Cox, whose name was swept up in trade speculation last week.
Cox was linked to Essendon, with reports suggesting he could be pushed out as part of Collingwood’s salary cap squeeze.
“Whether or not the clubs were having conversations, that’s probably something that happens on a daily basis with every single player on the list almost,” he said.
“I was totally ignorant to it. I was never personally contacted by Essendon to seek out any trade on my behalf. “I was kind of left in the dark with the whole thing wondering what was going on but at the end of the day we figured it out and we got everyone on the same page.
MORE AFL
Gary Buckenara grades every club’s 2020 trade period
How Essendon plans to mend bridges with Joe Daniher
“The agent earned his dollar that day and we figured it all out.”
Cox still has a year to run on his contract with the Magpies.
He has booted 71 goals across his 51 games since making his debut on Anzac Day in 2015.
The big man is currently travelling across America, with plans to meet up with Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley in Texas next week.