#46 Mason Cox

[Colin G Wood]

But can't we match the offer?

[MightyMagpie]

But can't we match the offer?

No. You are thinking of RFA.

[stui magpie]

But can't we match the offer?

No. You are thinking of RFA.

He's out of contract. There are 3 options.

1. He accepts our contract offer.
2. He declines offer and goes to the PSD
3. We trade him to where he wants

[Colin G Wood]

Well I'm hoping for option 1

(Thanks too for the clarification)

[MightyMagpie]

But can't we match the offer?

No. You are thinking of RFA.

He's out of contract. There are 3 options.

1. He accepts our contract offer.
2. He declines offer and goes to the PSD
3. We trade him to where he wants

And option 2 is why we have little leverage for option 3, especially if he is interested in Brisbane as rumoured.

[WarrenerraW]

cox has to be realistic about where he's at. he may want more opportunities but that only comes from merit and earning the right to play. he's still learning the game and adjusting to the rigors of professional football. he's a work in progress and by no means a superstar of the game but if there's any club that knows his development and is capable of taking him to the next level - it's us! the brions might be offering more coin but they're a rubbish cesspit of a club going nowhere.

[WarrenerraW]

No. You are thinking of RFA.

He's out of contract. There are 3 options.

1. He accepts our contract offer.
2. He declines offer and goes to the PSD
3. We trade him to where he wants

And option 2 is why we have little leverage for option 3, especially if he is interested in Brisbane as rumoured.

If he seriously wants out then what's he worth? I would demand a 2nd rounder at the very least from briscum. But if martin wants to return to Victoria then I guess he could be included in some way as part of a deal.

[AN_Inkling]

I'm a bit ambivalent on whether he stays or not. It's probably ideal that he stays, but not necessarily...

I have strong doubts that Cox/Grundy can make it as a quality second tall forward. I'm also mildly against playing three tall forwards. That potentially leaves us with another season of trying to get the Cox/Grundy balance right and possibly trying a third tall forward or a smaller Crameri/Mayne type. It failed all season in 2016 until the very last game. If it fails again we've wasted another season and Cox will leave anyway.

What we definitely do need is a clear view of how our forward line should be structured. We did not seem to have that in 2017, sometimes going with 2 talls, 3 or Moore alone. Our support of Cox also seemed to be flimsy, being dropped after one or two games on more than one occasion. I'm not confident that Cox can be part of a successful forward line, but if we keep him the club does need to be and must fully commit.

[glasseyevfx]

frankly I'm going off him. I was a big supporter of him very early and was rapped at how he was progressing - but if he doesn't love the club it won't be a loss. I'd never make a good recruiter, really don't like the American mentality of chasing the money. I'd like to see him well paid but if thats the only thing that drives him I don't give a rats

[Lazza]

[RudeBoy]

frankly I'm going off him. I was a big supporter of him very early and was rapped at how he was progressing - but if he doesn't love the club it won't be a loss. I'd never make a good recruiter, really don't like the American mentality of chasing the money. I'd like to see him well paid but if thats the only thing that drives him I don't give a rats

I know how you feel, but given the circumstances I'm prepared to cut Cox a bit of slack. Being soon to turn 27, he realistically only has 4-5 yrs left in the game to make a living. So money will obviously be a priority. Furthermore, I suspect that Collingwood had not offered him much at all, when negotiations began, because at that time he was only playing in the VFL and many (including me) had given up on him. It's really only his last 3 senior games which suddenly turned things around, and probably doubled his value. Hopefully our club will make him a good offer and he will remain.

[Mugwump]

^ agreed, RB. He also has an engineering degree and he turned down an offer of a career with ExxonMobil (starting salary probably about $100k AuD with rapid early increases in his first few years) to come over here.

These seven or so years out of his professional career may well have substantial costs for him later on in life, so he needs to make the money now. He deserves to be well compensated, and I bloody well hope we pay him what he's worth. I think he could be anything, based on his last few games.

[BBHS]

I thought him and Mclarty where both great in the VFL final. He is playing with genuine confidence now. Would be disappointing to see him walk away at this point.

[3rd degree]

I thought him and Mclarty where both great in the VFL final. He is playing with genuine confidence now. Would be disappointing to see him walk away at this point.

Agreed worth keeping him. McLarty was our shining light for our youngsters on saturday.

[Pies2016]

Strip it all back and the reality is that if he stays, it's at least one less hole that we would need to fill.
He can play in the ruck and he can go forward and provide a genuine tall marking option.
It's safe to assume he will continue to improve. He would be a better forward prospect again if / when we start to move the ball quicker and also a better ruck option if they eliminate the bounce down.
I can't see him getting any worse and I see him being a valuable and versatile part of our list in the future. No wonder there is interest from other clubs.