Scott Pendlebury believes Mason Cox’s performance in Collingwood’s VFL Elimination Final proved the American is “too good” for the state league.
Cox’s 2017 campaign was split with nine AFL games and 10 in the reserves.
His final performance of the season included 13 disposals, six marks and three goals as the VFL Magpies lost by 12 points to Richmond at North Port Oval.
“He was huge,” Pendlebury said on Collingwood Media podcast ‘Jock and Journo’.
“You don’t just get handed games at AFL level… but he’s definitely too good for VFL.”
LISTEN: Tune in to hear the full conversation on Jock and Journo.
Cox proved his worth at AFL level in the final month of the home and away season. A two-game suspension to first-choice ruck Brodie Grundy led to his inclusion into the senior side in round 21, where he remained for the rest of the year.
The 211cm big man worked successfully worked in tandem with Grundy in Collingwood’s impressive round 23 victory over Melbourne.
Cox is out of contract however, with Jock and Journo co-host and Herald Sun journalist Jay Clark suggesting that Brisbane, Richmond and the Western Bulldogs are all interested in securing his services.
Yet Pendlebury hopes the 211cm ruck/forward will remain a Pie, citing the scope to improve further as Cox’s biggest drawcard.
“The thing with Coxy is he’s still got so much upside.”
“He’s probably got the most upside of most of the big guys on our list.
“It’s scary his potential.”
LISTEN:
Pendlebury also threw his support behind forward Chris Mayne, who has been a topic of media conversation in recent weeks.
Mayne was also influential in the final minutes of the VFL Magpies’ comeback effort against Richmond on the weekend. He kicked two crucial last-quarter goals and finished with 21 possessions.
Pendlebury said he eagerly anticipated the return of the West Australian ahead of the 2018 season.
“As a teammate and as his captain, you can’t fault the bloke for his application around the football club and his investment around the guys,” he said.
“I had breakfast with Mayney this morning. We had a bit of a chat and the way he was talking, he’s really keen to rip into training again and get fit and ready to go for pre-season.”
Pendlebury’s comments on Mayne and Cox were just two talking points on a packed episode of 'Jock and Journo'. The co-hosts previewed the upcoming finals series, while also discussing:
- Pendles’ ‘disgusting’ viral video (0:30),
- Wacky Wednesday and Magpies overseas (3:40),
- Learning Buckley’s fate (5:15),
- Chris Mayne (6:10),
- The upside of Mason Cox (8:45),
- Tom Lynch the AFL ambassador (11:20),
- A state of emergency on the Gold Coast (12:30),
- Pros and cons of the pre-finals bye (13:50),
- Can the Giants pull an upset? (19:30),
- Are Richmond good enough? (23:00),
- The impact of Orazio (27:55),
- The biggest mistake of the All-Aus team (30:10),
- Port Adelaide’s soft draw (31:30),
- Josh Schache’s big backflip (33:00),
- Competition winner announced (35:30) and more.
