Player Watch Mason Cox

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The problem Cox has is when he does not Mark it he is a liability. I like him and would love him to succeed. Have met him and he is genuinely one of the better blokes you would meet. His attitude is first rate. But unless you are a full time ruckman or have unbelievable athleticism (good at ground level and super quick) its just hard to see a bloke of his height making his mark as a forward in this day and age.
 
The problem Cox has is when he does not Mark it he is a liability. I like him and would love him to succeed. Have met him and he is genuinely one of the better blokes you would meet. His attitude is first rate. But unless you are a full time ruckman or have unbelievable athleticism (good at ground level and super quick) its just hard to see a bloke of his height making his mark as a forward in this day and age.

The other problem is he only marks when the opposition doesn't body him. All three goals were from marks where he had an unimpeded jump at the ball. As soon as he's bodied up he's useless in the marking contest.


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The other problem is he only marks when the opposition doesn't body him. All three goals were from marks where he had an unimpeded hump at the ball. As soon as he's bodied up he's useless in the marking contest.


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But in those contested marking situations it's rare that he's actually out-marked and there should be someone at his feet. Allowed for at least 1 goal yesterday (Broomy's I think from memory). It's not all about Cox and the shortcomings in his game. He's very predictable yet the small forwards and mids aren't yet making the most of what he does actually bring to the team. Happy for him to play out the season and see if the F50 can forge some chemistry.
 

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Should at least be playing ruck when Grundy is resting because the only things he can do are:

  • ruckwork
  • Uncontested marks
  • Set shots from 30 metres out.
Quite frankly hes terrrible at everything else. Only useful as a forward if the ball comes in quickly and his opponent doesnt get a chance to outbody him.
 
The other problem is he only marks when the opposition doesn't body him. All three goals were from marks where he had an unimpeded hump at the ball. As soon as he's bodied up he's useless in the marking contest.


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Well now we know what he needs to work on at training:p
 
Also just did an analysis of Cox's VFL marking stats this season.

It would be fair to say he is a marking machine based on these figures, especially a contested marking beast at VFL level.

He has 5 games
Round 1 6 marks 4 contested
Round 5 8 marks 1 contested
Round 7 7 marks 5 contested
Round 8 5 marks 3 contested
Round 10 15 marks 4 contested

Averages 8.2 marks per game. 3.4 contested marks per game.

Just to give some perspective on how these figures compare to what the best AFL stats say. Footywire has contested marking figures from 2010. In that time only one player in any season (Trav Cloke in 2011, 3.8, wow) has managed to average 3.0 or better contested marks per game. In fact only Tom Lynch, once, Johnno Brown, twice and Podsiadly, once, have been better than 2.6 contested marks per game.

If you look at marks per game you will find there is usually only 1-2 players that average 8 marks or better per game across a season.

I understand we are comparing VFL to AFL but it must give some optimism that he is improving significantly in marking.
Wow he out marks undersized opponents in the VFL. He never has that impact at AFL level
 
Wow he out marks undersized opponents in the VFL. He never has that impact at AFL level

Kicked 22 goals in his first ever 16 games (whilst spending a lot of time in the ruck)... My god people are harsh on him.

His contested marking is a lot better than people on here think, it just hasn't fully clicked at AFL level yet. Remember he's a 3rd year giant ruckmen... Frankly I'd be staggered if there wasn't lots of improvement left in his game, and he's pretty decent right now anyway.
 
Kicked 22 goals in his first ever 16 games (whilst spending a lot of time in the ruck)... My god people are harsh on him.

His contested marking is a lot better than people on here think, it just hasn't fully clicked at AFL level yet.
It's clear as day that he is not up to it as a forward so why persist? We need to end this experiment of trying to make him a forward settle him in the ruck where he belongs
 
He was arguably our best player on the ground. I was saying at half time Cox would have to kick 6 goals for Collingwood to win.
I love his leadership qualities for a U.S. import, he looks as though the game is natural for him, like all good forwards he can kick multiple goals from limited opportunities. I hope he stays in for the rest of the season especially as we don't have a focal point to clunk marks in the forward line.
 
It's clear as day that he is not up to it as a forward so why persist? We need to end this experiment of trying to make him a forward settle him in the ruck where he belongs

... He is not up to it as a forward despite already kicking over a goal a game in his first few seasons of AFL footy playing as a ruckmen/forward and dominating the VFL as a forward... right..
 

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Should at least be playing ruck when Grundy is resting because the only things he can do are:

  • ruckwork
  • Uncontested marks
  • Set shots from 30 metres out.
Quite frankly hes terrrible at everything else. Only useful as a forward if the ball comes in quickly and his opponent doesnt get a chance to outbody him.

I think he is a decent contested mark when ball is kicked absolutely to his advantage and his defender is caught out a bit.

Long high balls which give a defender the opportunity to body him are not his strong suit. But I think he was ok yesterday at competing and bringing the ball to ground. But he needs to get much better at it.
 
It's clear as day that he is not up to it as a forward so why persist? We need to end this experiment of trying to make him a forward settle him in the ruck where he belongs
Rubbish, could've kicked 5 yesterday and was ignored many occassions when in good position, he doesn't mind crashing the odd pack either, he has a real dip and deserves a decent block of games.
 
I think he is a decent contested mark when ball is kicked absolutely to his advantage and his defender is caught out a bit.

Given his massive height advantage I'd define that as an uncontested mark.

The slightest bit of pressure from the defender or less than perfect kick from his teammate renders him next to useless.
 
... He is not up to it as a forward despite already kicking over a goal a game in his first few seasons of AFL footy playing as a ruckmen/forward and dominating the VFL as a forward... right..
Tell me when he has started one AFL game in the ruck? He plays as a forward who chops out in the ruck and not the other way around. He is a very limited forward and will never have a substantial career playing forward
 
It's clear as day that he is not up to it as a forward so why persist? We need to end this experiment of trying to make him a forward settle him in the ruck where he belongs

Forward is his best position but also should be playing second ruck to give Grundy a chopout. But not take a minute away from Grundy.
 
He should play first ruck in the VFL as if he is going to make the grade he will make it as a forward ruckman

Probably.

But given lack of other options may as well play him in the seniors for the moment. And take the pressure off Moore before he pings his hamstring from overwork..........woops too late.
 

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Player Watch Mason Cox

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