Port Adelaide’s Tobin Cox shaves 30 seconds off his time trial as he looks to learn from superstar teammate Robbie Gray
Up and coming Port Adelaide forward Tobin Cox has smashed 30 to 40 seconds off of his time trial and has revealed Robbie Gray has taken him under his wing.
Port Adelaide
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Gifted Port Adelaide forward Tobin Cox has shaved a stunning “30-to-40’’ seconds off his time trial and revealed superstar Robbie Gray had taken him under his wing in a bid to find his long-term replacement.
Just days after forwards coach Nathan Bassett made the surprise declaration that the rookie-listed Cox had been identified as a possible replacement for veteran Gray, the 20-year-old said he had saddled up alongside the four-times All-Australian at training and already had benefited from his expertise.
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With the fitness blowtorch applied to him in the off-season, Cox said he had improved his times for the club’s searching 3 x 1km time trials by “30-to-40’’ seconds while also recording big improvements in high-speed running.
“Last year I wasn’t the fittest guy,’’ the 181cm Cox, in his second season on the Power’s list, admitted.
“The club said I wasn’t going to be a key forward and would probably play a bit higher (up the ground), more half-forward, and maybe in the SANFL get a couple of minutes in the middle.
“So I had to get fitter and that’s what I tried to do. My times haven’t been too bad but I’ve got a fair way to go.’’
Glenelg product Cox, who kicked 30 goals in 15 SANFL games last season despite suffering a bad kidney injury, had his first taste of AFL in the Marsh Community Series clash against Brisbane in Queensland on Sunday.
He had just two disposals and failed to hit the scoreboard and admitted he struggled with the pace of the game in what he described as a great learning curve.
“It was a good first-up experience and good that we got the win,’’ the skilful Cox said, revealing he didn’t get much sleep before the game because of nerves.
“But it was pretty quick. I got a few touches and got tackled a couple of times when I didn’t think I would but the step up will benefit me.’’
Cox said he was not fazed by the lofty comparisons to the superb Gray, saying “it's always good to be compared to someone as good as Rob’’.
And he said the 31-year-old had been mentoring him and 2019 second-round draft pick Dylan Williams over summer.
“Robbie’s still got a few years left in him I reckon and it’s good to learn from him,’’ Cox said.
“We go through the edits of our games with him, get his insights and learn so much about how to go about it, crumbing, positioning stuff, all that.’’
Cox will play in Port’s under-23 Showdown against Adelaide at Thebarton Oval at noon on Saturday but some of the club’s best young players, including 2018 first-round draft picks Connor Rozee, Zak Butters and Xavier Duursma, could be missing.
With the match scheduled between Marsh Community Series matches, the Power will manage the pre-season load of its players.
It expects to use a handful of over 23s and SANFL players to round out its squad against the Crows.
Originally published as Port Adelaide’s Tobin Cox shaves 30 seconds off his time trial as he looks to learn from superstar teammate Robbie Gray