Fremantle Recruit Mason Cox Praises Young Dockers for Elevating Training Standards
Fremantle recruit Mason Cox has expressed excitement about the noticeable differences at the Dockers compared to his former club Collingwood, attributing a positive vibe to the younger stars driving higher standards at training. Cox, who joined Fremantle after 139 games and a premiership with the Pies, has been a standout performer in the pre-season, particularly in the absence of ruckman Sean Darcy.
Intensity and Hunger from Younger Players
At 34 years old, Cox's remarkable AFL journey is nearing its end, but he has no plans to slow down, thanks to the energy and effort from Fremantle's younger players. He told Mix94.5 that while there are similarities in training methods to Collingwood, the intensity at Fremantle is a step up due to the hunger for success among the team.
"With Fremantle, I've come to realise, is a younger team, so there's that hunger there, and the intensity is definitely a step up, because guys are trying to have success and do the best they can," Cox said. "As an older guy, it definitely gives you energy to go to training every day to know that effort and energy is going to be there, and it's been an enjoyable change."
Impressive Pre-Season Performance
Initially seen as surplus cover for Fremantle's ruck stocks, Cox has shone alongside Luke Jackson, with Darcy recovering from a calf complaint. Coach Justin Longmuir has been impressed by Cox's contributions, noting his strong performance in recent games, though he hinted that Darcy remains the first-choice option if fit.
"He's done really well, though, and I thought his game on the weekend was really strong. I thought he could have been a little bit more physical in the West Coast game, but that physicality returned against Adelaide and gave our mids first use," Longmuir told The West Sport Show. "So if Sean's not up for it through fitness and availability, then I'm sure Mason can do a really good job."
Taking Each Game as It Comes
Cox remains focused on the present, joking about selection decisions and emphasizing a week-by-week approach. "I don't get paid enough to make those decisions," he said. "We have the bye-week with round 0, so those conversations won't happen until next week, and that's kind of consistent in how it is week in and week out."
This positive atmosphere and competitive drive from the younger Dockers have reinvigorated Cox, setting a promising tone for Fremantle's upcoming season as they aim for success in the AFL.
