Mason Cox to miss season after eye surgery

Collingwood has suffered another blow with a freak eye injury to Mason Cox that will force an overhaul the Magpies’ forward line on the eve of finals.

Mason Cox of the Magpies.

Collingwood will be forced to revert to a smaller and more mobile forward structure after losing spearhead Mason Cox to a season-ending eye injury.

In another devastating injury blow for the Magpies, specialists confirmed Cox will miss the rest of the season to help mend a torn retina in his left eye.

Cox, 28, suffered an accidental poke in the eye in the second term in the Magpies’ win over Gold Coast on Sunday and spent several hours in hospital on Sunday night for treatment.

The setback will force changes to Collingwood’s forward structure as coach Nathan Buckley attempts to overcome one of the longest injury lists in the competition.

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The Pies have already likely lost Ben Reid (calf) and Tom Langdon (knee) for the remainder or the year while stars Jordan De Goey and Darcy Moore are recovering from hamstring issues.

Collingwood has also confirmed gun midfielder Dayne Beams will miss the rest of the year after undergoing shoulder surgery, on top of his earlier hip operation in May.

But Cox’s eye problem is arguably Collingwood’s biggest injury disappointment of the season after the Texan recruit starred in last year’s stunning preliminary final win over Richmond.

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The 211cm goalkicker is one of the Pies’ most targeted forwards and also plays a pivotal role helping support superstar big man Brodie Grundy in the ruck.

Football manager Geoff Walsh said Cox would have surgery on his eye this week and require an extended break from physical activity.

“Mason has been advised that after the surgery he will need a number of weeks rest which means that he will not play again this season,” Walsh said.

“You don’t take risks with situations like this. A second appointment with a specialist this morning confirmed that Mason suffered a tear to his retina that needs surgical repair.

“It is obviously a disappointment, especially for Mason, but importantly he is expected to make a complete recovery. We look forward to his return to the club.”

Mason Cox will miss the rest of the season with an eye injury.

His absence will place greater reliance on 192cm marking target Brodie Mihocek, Jamie Elliott and De Goey, once he returns form is own hamstring issues, to lead the attacking setup.

Speedster Jaidyn Stephenson will also push for an immediate return in the first week of finals when he is available to make his comeback from a 10-match betting ban.

The injury-depleted Magpies have struggled with form in the second half of the season and remain one game outside the top four.

They will need to win at least two of their final three matches of the home-and-away season against Melbourne (MCG), Adrelaide (AO) and Essendon (MCG) — and hope teams above them stumble — to secure a double chance.

Collingwood confirmed Beams was slated for end-of-season shoulder surgery, which was brought forward to help him prepare more quickly for the 2020 season.

He has also taken time away from the game for a mental health issue before returning to the club last week.