West Coast Eagles' legend and games record-holder Dean Cox has been inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
The ruck great's stellar career was recognised with the induction on Wednesday, along with Port Adelaide legend Greg Phillips, with the pair joining Lenny Hayes, Simon Black and Jonathan Brown as new inductees.
Cox, a six-time All-Australian, is widely considered one of the most legendary ruckmen of all-time, his incredible skill and finesse having a defining impact on the game's top ruckmen today.
Now an assistant coach at the Sydney Swans, Cox has been elevated to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility after retiring from playing in 2014.
Chris Judd pays tribute to fellow Eagle Dean Cox, who "changed the game".
— AFL (@AFL) June 3, 2020
Watch our full #HallofFame tribute to Coxy: https://t.co/sZPS2OFvNJ pic.twitter.com/F7pyFoldX4
Cox's huge legacy is all the more remarkable given how he was overlooked in the rookie draft and picked up by the Eagles with the 28th pick in the 2000 rookie draft out of the Dampier Sharks in the North Pilbara Football League.
He would go on to record a club-record 290 games for the Eagles, play in two grand finals including his star performance in the 2006 premiership, and claim a best and fairest medal in 2008.
Meanwhile, Phillips, the father of AFLW star Erin Phillips, was an eight-time premiership-winner and 447-game player across stints with Port Adelaide in the SANFL, Collingwood in the VFL and South Australia.
9 flags from an incredible 447 games with Port Adelaide, Collingwood and South Australia.
— AFL (@AFL) June 3, 2020
Enjoy our full tribute to #HallofFame inductee Greg Phillips here: https://t.co/lhfo3ZBiaW pic.twitter.com/K96DyoUNib
The legendary defender captained Port Adelaide for three years from 1991, and skippered the club for its 1992 premiership-winning season.
