Unreal, loopy, superb: Mason Cox's debut for Collingwood

Mason Cox wasn’t actually positive he needed to go to the Los Angeles mix, two and a bit years in the past.

He had by no means heard of Australian Guidelines soccer when he was requested to go alongside. He had a very good job lined up, he had packed up after school and he was prepared to maneuver to Houston and turn into an engineer, like virtually everybody else in his household.

And when he appeared up the sport on-line, the very first thing he noticed was a clip of its largest hits.

“There was a bunch of men getting their heads taken off,” he stated. “I used to be a bit frightened at the moment.”

Then he made the choice that has led him a great distance: to Australia, to Collingwood, to the senior listing and the MCG on Anzac Day, the place his first kick was the sport’s first objective.

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“They provided for me to remain an additional day after the mix, to go and see some buddies and stuff,” Cox stated. “So for me it was like, cool, I am going to check out.

“I already had a job in Houston, so it could not harm. Earlier than I left, it felt like a trip. Clearly, issues sort of took off. It was a bit wilder than I assumed.”

Cox was taken briefly apart by Nathan Buckley after the Final Submit was performed on Monday. The coach informed him to ensure he loved the sport, although he already knew he would.

“Mase is like most People,” Buckley stated. “They do not thoughts the large stage. He was wanting ahead to it.”

Cox was, and felt prepared for it. He had been working exhausting, and he had been ready. When he first got here to Australia, and was deciding which membership to signal on with, Collingwood record supervisor Derek Hine took him straight out onto the MCG.

It has caught with him. “He stated, this might be your workplace,” Cox stated. “After that, it is all the time been a objective of mine to have the ability to play right here.

“To exit and do one thing like that within the first recreation was a hell of an expertise and a hell of a strategy to begin your profession.”

He had different phrases for it too: unreal, loopy, superb. And naturally he was nervous: “It is solely eighty five,000 individuals!”

So was his father, Phil, who jumped on a aircraft in Dallas a couple of days in the past with Mason’s mom, Jeanette, and brothers Nolan and Austin. However that feeling in a short time gave approach to different feelings.

It wasn’t the household’s first Anzac Day expertise — they have been on the town for a couple of weeks this time final yr and stayed for the sport — however it was one thing else solely to see their son play in it. And kick the primary aim. And take three massive marks. And get the ball 10 occasions.

That they had some considerations when he informed them he needed to do this new recreation out, accidents, principally. However they knew his sudden probability was one he needed to take they usually have adopted his progress in each means potential since.

“We comply with it on tv. We’re on Twitter, we’re on reside chat, we’re on Collingwood radio,” stated Phil, laughing.

“It is simply unimaginable, incredible. There have been individuals sending me messages from again residence within the States. We had lots of people watching, household and pals. It was lots of enjoyable. It was a thrill.”

It was the identical for Mason, who knew his huge day was about greater than the sport he nonetheless needs to get a lot, a lot better at: at objective-kicking, at determination-making, at fast arms, at all the things.

“To have the ability to honour the Anzacs, it will not be my residence nation nevertheless it’s the identical feeling as our Memorial Day,” he stated.

“It is one factor to have the ability to play in entrance of those individuals and simply entertain them, however to go on the market and struggle on your nation, it is probably the most unselfish act you might do for individuals you’ll by no means know.

“The final two years have been up and down. I’ve had some tough occasions and a few good occasions however I do not know, you journey the wave and wherever it lands, it lands.

“I have been lucky to return to Collingwood. It is superb, what’s occurred in my life within the final three or 4 years.

“It has been a loopy rollercoaster, and I would not change it for the world.”