Track Watch: Mason Cox joins veteran Pies, Dees time trial

Delisted Magpie Mason Cox has made a surprise return to Collingwood’s training track, joining several senior players in an unofficial pre-season session.

Mason Cox was a surprise attendee at Collingwood this morning training alongside a group of Pies, who hit the track despite not being required back yet.

New recruit Jack Buller took to the field alongside veterans in Jeremy Howe, Steele Sidebottom, Dan McStay and Darcy Cameron in the makeshift session.

Roan Steele, Ed Allan and Pat Lipinski were also in attendance.

Cox was delisted by the Pies weeks ago but joined in with his former teammates who went through running drills, with mid-season draftee Steele leading the way.

The American big man is hopeful of finding a new home with Fremantle reportedly interested in adding him as ruck support for Luke Jackson and Sean Darcy.

The session at the Pies started light with the group smiling and laughing as Jeremy Howe’s son Zander ran alongside them.

Mason Cox during todays session. Picture: Michael Klein

DEES TIME TRIAL

The Demons continued their pre-season campaign as some more senior players poured in ahead of schedule with Bayley Fritsch, Christian Salem and Jack Viney all in attendance.

The session kicked off with the dreaded 2km time trial. Coaches split the squad into groups starting at staggered locations around the ground. Viney watched on from the sidelines but was vocal in support of his teammates.

A lean looking Jacob Van-Rooyen continued his impressive preseason, leading home his group with a time of 6:48.

THE RUNNING CONTINUES

Only 15 minutes after the gut-busting time trial, coaches ramped up the intensity with nearly the full squad moving into fast paced ball movement work.

Blake Howes saw plenty of the Sherrin and impressed equally with his ball use, showing a level of class by foot.

Tom Sparrow also impressed with strong ball use and pressure, regularly forcing errors from teammates as the opposing teams took turns picking their way through the others defence across the length of Gosch’s Paddock.

Coaches ensured that the ball was constantly in motion, forcing high intensity running showing a glimpse of what the style under Steven King might look like.

SKILLS WORK

It wasn’t all running as the Dees look to alleviate a few problems that plagued their disappointing 2025.

The Dees under King are showing a clear intent that they are looking to do the basics better, with the whole squad working through a short session of kick to kick.

The forward group also peppered the nets behind the goalposts as they worked on their goalkicking, an area in need of significant improvement after an average year in front of goals.

Originally published as Track Watch: Mason Cox joins veteran Pies, Dees time trial