Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Cornes' tribute to the "incredible" story of Mason Cox
Jaiden Sciberras • October 20th, 2025 11:26 am
Mason Cox’s career at AFL level is nothing short of miraculous.
Heading to Australia from Oklahoma in 2014, Cox – a 211cm collegiate level basketballer - made the decision to take on Australian rules football, a sport he hadn’t heard of until 23 years of age.
Born and raised in Texas, Cox was invited to attend the US International Combine, a program in which international athletes are trialled and scouted for potential careers in professional football.
Speaking with five clubs in 2014, Cox selected Collingwood as his home for development, learning the game of Aussie Rules through the Pies’ VFL system before eventually earning a debut on Anzac Day in 2016.
Now, the 34-year-old Texan has achieved it all, playing 139 games, booting 127 goals and winning a premiership in 2023 as the second American to ever play at the top level.
After being told he would not receive a contract with the Pies in 2026 (alongside Brownlow Medallist Tom Mitchell), the Magpies released a brilliant tribute video, earmarking Cox's rapid rise from a lanky basketballer to an AFL regular.
With the tribute in mind, SEN's Kane Cornes touched on the miracle that was Mason Cox's tenure with the Magpies.
“I did want to pay tribute, Tom Mitchell and Mason Cox have been delisted essentially by Collingwood,” Kane Cornes told SEN Breakfast.
“The video that they released, I think the Collingwood social team did it, of Mason Cox’s tribute; it just reminded you of how incredible this story is.
“The vision of him when he was first trying to kick a footy… you forget the improvement in him. I was speaking to Campbell Brown, he said he called a couple of his first VFL games when he was working there, and a lot of the times he would be three or four touches, but he would just do one thing. He would be miles off it, but he’d just do one thing where you thought, ‘there might be something there’.
“He was running around with the two-handed ball drop, couldn’t kick on the run, so to do what he did, and play as many games as he had, I think it is one of the best stories we’ve seen, and one that will be an inspiration for many others.
“I think he will play a pivotal role now, probably at the AFL somewhere in terms of trying to get other Americans to play AFL.
“He genuinely couldn’t kick on the run, let alone stationary. Amazing story.”
Despite being let go by the Magpies, Cox is yet to officially call time on his AFL career, and while the ruckman will be 35 years of age at the turn of the 2026 season, Cornes believes there could be a side willing to take the American on board.
“I wouldn’t be shocked if it happened and he got an opportunity,” he said.
“Todd Goldstein is still running around, that goes to show that there’s a desperate need for some backup rucks. Maybe he will, but whenever it comes to an end, he is going to play a pivotal role with the AFL.
“If Collingwood don’t want him, will another club? I don’t know.”
