AFL Origin: Dockers recruit Mason Cox reveals his allegiances ahead of WA vs Vic clash
After living in Victoria for more than a decade, but now residing in WA, who is Mason Cox rooting for in this weekend’s Origin blockbuster?
Fremantle recruit Mason Cox was raised in Texas, lived in Melbourne for more than 10 years and now resides in Perth. But the naturalised Aussie has quashed any question marks over his state allegiances ahead of Saturday night’s State of Origin clash at Optus Stadium.
Having joined the Dockers on a two-year deal after 11 seasons with Collingwood, the 34-year-old suggested his first few months in Perth had won him over.
“I live in WA now, so I guess you could consider me a WA boy. I’m Australian, I’ve got Australian citizenship, so I have ticked that box off, but I’m now resident of Western Australia. So I think I have to go with the locals,” Cox told The West Australian.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“And you know, we’ve got some amazing guys with Luke Jackson playing for that side also. So you’d be able to obviously support and barrack for your teammates. And yeah, I’m excited to be able to have it here.”
Cox previewed the fixture while attending a sneak peek of Crown Perth’s new Urban Food District which opens on Friday, situated walking distance from Optus Stadium.
The first Origin battle since 1999, Saturday night’s star-studded clash will see homegrown talents in former All Australian Tim English, Collingwood’s 2025 B&F winner in Darcy Cameron, and premiership player Luke Jackson pitted against North’s 2025 B&F winner Tristan Xerri, along with arguably the greatest big man of this century in Max Gawn.
With tall targets Sam Darcy and Ben King also in the mix for the Vics, Cox was asked if he felt the game would be won or lost in the air.
“I sure as hell hope so!” he teased.
“I think, obviously, you’re going to have a lot of aerial power on that team (Victoria), and it’ll be great fun to kind of see all of them and how they’re going to intertwine with each other.”
“I think at some point, you know, I was seeing some of them playing at half back, or something like that. So I think if there’s a time to have a bit of fun with it, and just to be able to throw guys around, throw the magnets around, as they would say, I think this is the time to do it.
“So I think for the fans, it’d be a great, entertaining spectacle to be able to see some of their favourite players all playing on one team.”
Another of Cox’s teammates to pull on the black and gold will be Jordan Clark, while Caleb Serong — who recently signed a seven-year extension to remain at the Dockers until the end of 2034 — will represent Victoria.
Led by superstar captain Marcus Bontempelli, Victoria’s travelling party arrived in Perth on Wednesday night.
