{"id":223844,"date":"2025-10-18T23:35:06","date_gmt":"2025-10-18T23:35:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/223844\/"},"modified":"2025-10-18T23:35:06","modified_gmt":"2025-10-18T23:35:06","slug":"footy-fans-stunned-as-collingwood-cult-hero-mason-cox-is-not-offered-a-new-contract-for-2026-its-been-an-unbelievable-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/223844\/","title":{"rendered":"Footy fans stunned as Collingwood cult hero Mason Cox is NOT offered a new contract for 2026 – ‘its been an unbelievable journey’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mason Cox delisted by Collingwood MagpiesTowering ruckman made his AFL debut in 2016Posted on Instagram he is ‘excited about what’s next’<\/p>\n

By OLIVER CAFFREY FOR AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS and ANDREW PRENTICE, SPORT REPORTER, AUSTRALIA<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 05:55 BST, 18 October 2025 | Updated: 05:55 BST, 18 October 2025 <\/p>\n

Mason Cox, the first American to become a regular AFL<\/a> player, has been delisted by Collingwood after 139 games.<\/p>\n

Cox, 34, confirmed he won’t be with the Magpies in 2026.<\/p>\n

In a video posted on Instagram,\u00a0Cox thanked the club and supporters, saying he was ‘pretty excited about what’s next.’<\/p>\n

The towering ruck-forward didn’t confirm if he intended to retire or try to extend his career at another club.<\/p>\n

‘It’s crazy to think that you’d never heard of a sport…\u00a0 to then be a premiership player,’ Cox said.<\/p>\n

‘Collingwood supporters are the best supporters in the world.’<\/p>\n

\"Mason <\/p>\n

Mason Cox, the first US athlete to become a regular AFL player, has been delisted by Collingwood after 139 games<\/p>\n

\"In <\/p>\n

In a video posted on Instagram, Cox thanked the club and supporters, saying he was ‘pretty excited about what’s next’, suggesting he could join a rival club ahead of the 2026 season<\/p>\n

\"A <\/p>\n

A former college basketballer, Cox was signed by Collingwood as an international rookie and made his debut on Anzac Day in 2016, booting the first goal of the contest\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cox famously debuted on Anzac Day 2016, kicking the first goal of the game in front of 85,082 people at the MCG.<\/p>\n

A former college basketballer, Cox – who is 6’11 – was signed by Collingwood as an international rookie in 2014.<\/p>\n

It followed Cox impressing at two combines – one in Los Angeles, and the second in Australia.<\/p>\n

After 20 games over his first two seasons on the Magpies’ main list, Cox became a regular in 2018 as Collingwood shot back up the AFL ladder.<\/p>\n

In one of the most extraordinary preliminary final performances, Cox powered Collingwood into the 2018 premiership decider with a towering effort to help dethrone red-hot favourites Richmond.<\/p>\n

The Magpies went down to West Coast the following week in a thriller, but Cox became a premiership player five years later when Collingwood defeated the Brisbane Lions in an epic 2023 grand final.<\/p>\n

Cox became an Australian citizen in 2022 during a ceremony at the MCG.<\/p>\n

Wearing goggles for his final few seasons due to a serious eye injury, Cox ends his time at the Magpies with 127 goals.<\/p>\n

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