WHO’S FLYING

Each week throughout the 2023 season we will present Who’s Flying, a series of stories which will encapsulate everything that is good about our great game. It could be a star player, a coach who has inspired his men or a team that is – pardon the pun – flying. BRENDAN RHODES analyses Mason Cox’s superb game for Collingwood last week.

Many people, including Collingwood coach Craig McRae, are calling Mason Cox’s domination of GWS in last Sunday’s 65-point MCG thrashing the best game of his career.

Playing his 98th AFL match in honour of his mum Jeanette, who got up early on Mother’s Day back home in Texas to watch, Cox had 19 disposals, took nine marks (four contested), won 24 hit-outs and kicked two goals including a long bomb from outside 50 in a dominant display that won him 10 votes in the AFL Coaches Association Player of the Year Award.

In just his second game back from missing five weeks with a ruptured spleen, the 211cm Cox was everywhere as he terrorised a team ironically called the Giants, leading to effusive praise from McRae.

“I did say it was one of his best games,” he said in his post-match press conference.

“I thought he provided great aerial presence ... we’ve lost key personnel (in the ruck) and someone had to step up.

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“He has only played two games in eight weeks and it was a great performance.”

But one person didn’t agree with McRae’s assessment – the man himself – who still puts that 2018 preliminary final against Richmond at the top of the tree, simply because of the stage it was delivered on.

Given Cox had 15 disposals, took 11 marks and kicked three goals in front of 94,959 people to lead Collingwood to a 39-point upset win over a powerhouse Tigers and into the 2018 Grand Final, it’s pretty hard to argue, but this latest performance would have to be on the podium.

“I’m not downplaying GWS, but I think a prelim against Richmond – I don’t know how many games they had won in a row at the MCG (22) – but to be able to stop them having a four-peat is certainly up there,” Cox told The Age ’s Marc McGowan last Monday.

“On a Sunday afternoon versus GWS, it’s probably not at the same level, but when you get these moments, man – I’m not stupid.

“I’m in the back half of my career, but whenever you get to play these kinds of games, you’ve got to soak them in, and just make the most of it and really enjoy it.”