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Live sport on SN this weekendFrom hater to fan: How Cox won over new Freo teammate
SEN • February 7th, 2026 4:01 pm
Dashing Fremantle defender Jordan Clark has loved what he’s seen from the club’s two recruits this pre-season in Judd McVee and Mason Cox.
McVee joined the club from Melbourne in exchange for pick 23, the 25-year-old is expecting him to go to even greater heights in purple than he reached during his 65 games in red and blue.
After playing more of a lockdown role in defence during the 2025 season, Clark expects McVee to show more of the attacking side of his game under Justin Longmuir in 2026.
“He (McVee) is going well,” Clark told SEN WA Breakfast.
“Obviously, at Melbourne, he had a different role, which was the defensive sort of lockdown role.
“But I can almost assure you that’s not going to be the Judd McVee that we've brought in to add to our side.
“We obviously share the load as a backs group, and there might be times when one of us has to lock down and play a more defensive role, but I can’t see him doing that every week.”
The other club to join Fremantle from a rival club was Cox, who moved west as a delisted free agent following 11 years and 139 games for Collingwood.
Clark admittedly wasn’t a big fan of the 2023 premiership player while he was at the Magpies, but that has quickly changed since getting to know the American.
“He is (settling in nicely), he and Sean have had some good ruck battles, it’s been fiery at times, but it’s great, it’s a competitive sport,” Clark said.
“It's really good to see. Mason’s been really competitive and it’s helped Sean, to be honest.
“I've got no doubt that big Coxy's going to contribute in some way, and he already has helping develop those younger boys behind him and around him.
“(Before I met him) I said he wasn't my favourite person… but, since I've got to know him, he's a cracking fellow, and I really enjoy his company.
“He's a really nice bloke and puts all his time and effort into his relationships and that sort of thing outside of being on the oval.
“He’s been a great refresher to have walk through the club this year.”
Both McVee and Cox will hope to make their Fremantle debuts when the club opens its 2026 season with a Round 1 clash against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium on March 14.
