Mason Cox seeking clarity on abrupt exit from Collingwood after joining Fremantle as SSP signing
Mason Cox has hit the ground running in Perth – but, as the new Docker reveals, he still has plenty of questions for Collingwood about the ‘shock’ call that ended his time in black and white.
New Docker Mason Cox has revealed he felt blindsided by Collingwood’s decision to delist him and he’s still seeking clarity on the club’s reasoning.
The trailblazing American was axed by the Magpies at the end of the 2025 season after 11 years and 139 games for the club.
But the 34-year-old was handed a lifeline by Fremantle, joining the Dockers as a SSP signing on a two-year deal earlier this week.
Cox hopes closure will come “in time” after a whirlwind Collingwood career, headlined by the club’s 2023 premiership, after conceding he wasn’t satisfied with how his time at the Magpies ended.
“I think there’s still probably a lot of detail I’d love to know around the whole subject,” Cox admitted.
“I had an incredible time there. 11 years at any football club is a long time.
“It ended quite abruptly which I wasn’t prepared for.
“It was a shock for a lot of people, myself and my manager were pretty shocked.
“I’m not going to look back on the past. I’m focused on the future with this group and doing something special with them.
“I’m all in here. I’ve had an incredible first week here and I’m grateful for J-Lo and the rest of the group for taking me in.”
Cox won’t have to wait long to renew hostilities with his former side, with Collingwood and Fremantle set to clash on Friday night in round five as one of Gather Round’s main events.
“I’ll enjoy it,” Cox said when asked about the prospect of playing his former side. “That’s all I say.”
How much football Cox plays next year remains to be seen given the Dockers already deploy a two-ruck combination in Sean Darcy and Luke Jackson.
The 211cm big man said it was still an “easy decision” to head west and try and add to his career games tally.
“If you train with some of the really good ruckman in the comp, you’ll only increase your experience, become more diversified and make each other better,” he said.
“From my perspective, I’m trying to bring my strengths to the table and make their strengths shine.
“I’m not going to set expectations for myself. I just want to fit in and be a team player.”
Cox’s arrival at Fremantle has been more than a decade in the making.
The Dockers were one of six clubs that interviewed Cox in the US when he was an AFL hopeful in 2014.
Fremantle then had another swing when Cox was out of contract at the end of 2021.
Cox credited his strong relationship with head coach Justin Longmuir as one of the things that got him across the line.
“I’ve known J-Lo from previous Collingwood days and have a lot of respect for him as a coach and person,” he said.
“I’ve always had Fremantle in the back of my mind given I’ve had conversations with them previously.
“There’s a lot of determination with this group which I’ve been able to see quite early.”
Originally published as Mason Cox seeking clarity on abrupt exit from Collingwood after joining Fremantle as SSP signing
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