Surprise two-year contract detail emerges in Mason Cox’s career lifeline with Fremantle

Mason Cox has scored a surprise two-year deal after securing an AFL career lifeline by Fremantle.

The American ruckman was delisted by Collingwood last month, bringing an end to his premiership-winning stint at the powerhouse club.

But he will be sticking around for some time yet after bucking the one-year deal trend for players in their 30s.

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Cox, who turns 35 in March next year, will sign with the Dockers for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.

The 211cm big man only made his AFL debut at the age of 25.

He racked up 139 senior games for the Magpies and made a further 59 appearances in the VFL.

The AFL’s rule change to dump the substitute and expand the interchange bench to five players was a big factor in Fremantle’s decision to sign Cox.

“Expect them to commit to two rucks and three tall forwards,” 7NEWS Melbourne’s Mitch Cleary reported.

The Dockers backed in the ruck combination of Sean Darcy and Luke Jackson in 2025 with Josh Treacy, Jye Amiss and Pat Voss sharing the load in attack.

Fremantle’s strategy had a high-profile critic in Port Adelaide premiership player Kane Cornes, who remains unconvinced by the Cox signing.

“Two rucks doesn’t work at the Dockers so let’s try three,” he wrote.

With Fremantle unlikely to change a winning formula, after claiming 16 victories and only narrowly missing out on the semi-finals, Cox is not without hope of forcing his way into the side.

The veteran was a crucial piece at Collingwood across 2022-24 and was trusted to return in the finals this year despite playing only eight games and being subbed out three times.