Mason Cox wants to become Australian citizen - and cement place in Collingwood line-up

MASON Cox has plenty of goals — on and off the field. And the Collingwood big man is ready to do the hard yards in his bid to secure a permanent place in Nathan Buckley’s side.

Mason Cox wants to make his mark on and off the field. Picture: Getty Images

FIRST Mason Cox wants to establish himself in Collingwood’s best side alongside Brodie Grundy.

Then he wants to become a permanent resident of the country and eventually an Australian citizen.

Cox returned to pre-season training alongside Collingwood’s 1-4 year players on Wednesday, starting his campaign with a run up the infamous Anderson St Hill.

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He rebuffed solid long-term offers to sign on with the likes of Brisbane, instead agreeing to a three-year deal with Collingwood.

Having committed to the club, he believes he and Grundy can find a way to both play in the club’s best side.

Recently re-signed ruckman/forward Mason Cox and Magpies' Super Netball recruit Erin Bell got back to work on Wednesday. Picture: Getty Images

In Round 23 Cox played ruck and Grundy started as a roaming forward, just one of a number of successful experiments in the win over Melbourne.

“I would like to hope so,’’ Cox said of them both playing in the Round 1 team.

“Myself and Brodie play similar positions so it will be very interesting to see how the pre-season goes with that. He doesn’t come back for another few weeks and hopefully I get a head start on him when it comes to training but hopefully we will be able to play in the same team and in that forward ruck role.

“I think (that win) just showed the diversity of our list. Brodie went forward and played well, myself in the ruck, we played pretty well together.

“There were a few guys tossed around with Brayden Maynard in the middle, we still came out with a win.”

Mason Cox hopes he and Brodie Grundy can fit in the same 22. Pic: Michael Klein

Cox’s signature at Collingwood was no certainty, the American admitting he consulted plenty of confidantes before again signing on.

He says moving elsewhere would not have jeopardised his Australian visa, but he has ambitious future plans in this country.

“I am in that process (with the visa) right now, it’s separate to footy and it’s a bit of a pain here and there.

“I want to stay in Australia long term, I am in the process of trying to get citizenship. I was talking to immigration agents so no matter what happened I was able to get citizenship.

“With a three-year contract I should have no problem. Permanent residency will hopefully be around the corner.

“In three years hopefully I can get citizenship and be able to stay long term, find a missus and settle down but time will tell.

Nathan Buckley shows Cox some of the finer points of the game. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

“The long-term plan is to start investing a bit in Australia and set myself up to spend the rest of my life here.”

Before signing that contract he spent time with president Eddie McGuire, captain Scott Pendlebury and coach Nathan Buckley.

He is thrilled Buckley has signed on for another two-year contract, adamant the commitment will allow the club to focus on on-field issues.

“It’s good to know for two years at least he will be around. To have that security and to have that relationship with the coach, (it’s good) to be able to go forward and make that a stronger relationship.”

Jamie Elliott, arrested after Derby Day for urinating in a bin, will return on November 20 and meet with the club’s leaders.

But it seems unlikely he will be handed any separate penalty after already being fined for the incident.