Collingwood ruckman Mason Cox has apologised after being asked to explain his collision with the GWS ruck coach

He had vowed to tell his story in his podcast but after being issued a please explain by the AFL Collingwood big man Mason Cox has come clean on his pregame antics before the loss to GWS.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 09: Mason Cox of the Magpies and team mates look dejected after losing the AFL Opening Round match between Greater Western Sydney Giants and Collingwood Magpies at GIANTS Stadium, on March 09, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Collingwood big man Mason Cox has apologised and conceded he should have “stopped my run” after being hit with a please explain by the AFL for bumping in to GWS ruck coach Shane Mumford before Saturday night’s loss in Sydney.

Cox collided with Mumford in the centre-square as he completed his pre-game drills before their opening round clash as the two teams went through their warm-ups.

Both clubs were spoken to by the AFL on Monday as part of a league investigation and Cox had vowed to give his side of the story on his podcast amid claims the Giants had encroached on the area too soon.

But on Monday, with the AFL continuing to work through the situation before deciding on any fault, Cox came clean on his role in the incident.

“I apologise for the incident in our pre-game where I made contact with a GWS official,” he said.

“In the moment, I was solely focused on getting one more bounce in – in hindsight, I should have stopped my run-up rather than completing the drill.”

Mason Cox has been issued a 'please explain' for making contact with an opposition coach before #AFLGiantsPies.

Full details: https://t.co/TsMPW6cwQhpic.twitter.com/r61zPQ7EUr

— AFL (@AFL) March 10, 2024

In its response to the league, Collingwood said its two rucks were completing their pre-game centre-bounce practice “in its prescribed window before the GWS midfield players and officials arrived to commence their period of centre-bounce work”.

Collingwood claimed that during the “period of transition, Mason had requested the AFL umpire to bounce the ball once more to finalise his preparation”

The umpire bounced the ball with Cox’s run-up coinciding with GWS moving into the centre circle area and the Magpie ruckman elected to complete the drill, making contact with Mumford.

Collingwood football boss, Brendon Bolton said Cox had vowed to be “more aware” in the future.

“We have reviewed the situation and it is clear it was a period of transition in the centre circle – our rucks were completing their centre bounce practice as the GWS midfield arrived to commence their centre-circle work.

“Mason has acknowledged that making contact with opposition officials or players pre-game should be avoided and with our Club’s support, will be more aware in future.”