Collingwood have decided to part ways with Mason Cox, delisting the towering American after 139 games with the club.
The 34-year-old confirmed he will not be part of the Magpies’ squad next season, marking the end of an unlikely and remarkable journey that began over a decade ago.
Cox shared the news in a video on Instagram, thanking fans and teammates while hinting at excitement for the next chapter. “It’s crazy to think that you’d never heard of a sport … to then be a premiership player,” he said. “Collingwood supporters are the best supporters in the world.”
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From Oklahoma to the MCG
Signed as an international rookie in 2014 after impressing at combines in Los Angeles and Australia, the former college basketballer became the first American to forge a consistent AFL career. His debut came on the grand Anzac Day stage in 2016, where he famously kicked the opening goal in front of more than 85,000 fans at the MCG.
Cox’s standout performance in the 2018 preliminary final against Richmond remains etched in Collingwood folklore, and he eventually earned a premiership medal in 2023.
Club list boss Justin Leppitsch praised the departing forward’s impact, saying: “Mason, who moved to the other side of the world to pursue a sport he had never played before, worked incredibly hard to learn the unique skills of Australian Rules. His dedication and commitment to Collingwood are a credit to the person he is.”