How Robbie Fox has gone from cheering a Pies flag to plotting their downfall

The last time Robbie Fox was at the MCG, he was wearing a Pies jumper and cheering Collingwood – and childhood friend Brody Mihocek – to a flag. On Friday, he’ll be back in a Swans jumper, hoping to propel Sydney to a premiership of their own.

Last September, Swans utility Robbie Fox found himself on the sidelines of the MCG watching on as Collingwood lifted the 2023 premiership cup – Pies guernsey on and all.

There to support his good mate Brody Mihocek, who he played junior footy with back in Tasmania, Fox was surprised at how tense he felt despite the Swans not being involved.

“It’s a different (feeling),” Fox said. “The minute we lost that game against Carlton, my focus was on Brody.

“I’d never been more nervous before the final when they just beat the Giants. Then we organised tickets for the grand final and it was amazing … I couldn’t be happier for him.”

But Fox makes no secret of the fact that he was burning not to be out on the field.

Swans star Robbie Fox doing a Daine Laurie in a Collingwood jersey.

“Just seeing how much joy they got for his family and friends, winning that game, it would be amazing for us to get a chance to do it again and get back there.”

Fox returns to the MCG this Friday to take on Mihocek and the Pies, with Sydney looking to continue their fast start to the 2024 season.

The Swans were dominant in the second half against Melbourne, running away with a 22-point victory. Fox played a vital role, effectively tagging Jake Lever and limiting his impact out of defence.

The 30-year-old finished with a goal, nine disposals and six tackles with Lever well down on his usual intercepting output.

“It’s always good to win the first game,” Fox said. “There was so much excitement with opening round, the march and celebrating 150 years.

“It was quite a sloppy game, I don’t think we’ve ever played on March 7 so the humidity was crazy.

“I was speaking with Horse (Longmire) and it’s probably about swapping my mindset over to being a forward compared to being a defender. For those half-forward roles, you’re probably lucky to get over 10 touches and that’s all right.

“That’s your role to get up and down the ground, support the wingers and defenders, and then when it’s your turn to impact, make a tackle or hit the scoreboard when you get a chance.”

Sydney's Robbie Fox and Melbourne's Steven May during the AFL Opening Round match at the SCG. Picture: Phil Hillyard

It’s a move Fox wasn’t expecting going into his eighth year on the Swans’ list. Often tagged as the club’s ‘Mr Fix-It’, he was regularly deployed down back or up top depending on where the team needed him.

But Longmire saw enough in patches last season to make the full-time move and while it was a surprise, the newly defined role is set to unlock Fox’s best football.

“I played a couple of games (in the forwards) last year and I probably didn’t attack it as well as I thought I should have,” Fox said.

“I wanted to stay in the backline, but I actually went all right up there and Horse went through some vision with me around the role I was playing in the forward line and what I could add.

“It was nice to get a full pre-season in the forward line working with them and learning different patterns and different crafts, all these little things that I probably didn’t know about.

“And it was nice to get two to three months training, instead of just on a Thursday night telling me I’m playing forward and having two days to prepare.”

Robbie Fox during the Sydney Swans training session at the SCG. Picture: Phil Hillyard.

The change of role has combined with a new mindset as Fox looks to make the most of the twilight of his footy career. While he was later to the sport than most, he’s determined not to let complacency overtake his thinking.

“Last year, I probably got caught up thinking ahead too much because of the good 2022 (season),” Fox said. “I got caught thinking too much about finals and thinking ahead too much that I wasn’t performing each week.

“At the moment, I’m just happy playing a role that’s important to the team. That’s all I’m focusing on. I’m sure down the track, there’ll be injuries and different things happen. I might get thrown to the wing or the defence.

“Coming in late it took me a while to adjust to AFL so I probably didn’t play good footy until I was 27-28. I’m still feeling fit, my body’s good at the moment and feeling confident out there so I think there’s a lot of good footy left in me. Hopefully, I can show that.”

Fox’s ability to keep Lever quiet could see him deployed in a similar role against Pies skipper Darcy Moore. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The week-by-week focus has been adopted by the Swans with the group excited to show what they can do against Collingwood in front of a hostile crowd of more than 85,000 people.

Longmire’s message has been simple: it’s all about accountability. Having been at the club since 2017, Fox is as excited as ever by the potential that he sees.

“Horse spoke about it all pre-season,” Fox said. “We’re playing Melbourne who’s a quality side up here … into the premiers on their home deck. It’s probably the best way to start a year to see how you’re going.

“I think it was the message when we left last year. It was, ‘Get your runners on, we’re hitting the ground running and not easing into it’. Everyone came back fit, with plenty of PBs and it was on straight away.

“I think we’re ready to give it a crack and we’re pretty excited.”

Originally published as How Robbie Fox has gone from cheering a Pies flag to plotting their downfall