Collingwood's Mason Cox tears Richmond apart in unbelievable half

Tom Naghten

Collingwood's Mason Cox tears Richmond apart in unbelievable half image

Mason Cox, a six foot ten Texan, has ended Richmond's premiership defence after a stunning first half at the MCG on Friday night.

Collingwood were well and truly the underdogs heading into the preliminary final against the reigning premiers but no one told Cox.

The big man lit up the near-capacity crowd at the MCG as Collingwood took an unbelievable 44-point lead into the main break, eventually running out 39-point victors.

Pies fans even broke out into chants of "USA!" as Cox kicked three goals in the second term.

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He went into the sheds at the end of the amtch with three goals and 11 marks, eight of them contested, in a performance that will be sure to give Damien Hardwick nightmares.

David Astbury was given the job on Cox after being in hospital earlier in the day with a bout of gastro and he was exposed by the clean hands of the Pies forward.

Along with Cox, Jordan de Goey and Jack Crisp both kicked multiples goals in the first half that left the hot-favourite Tigers shell-shocked.

The Magpies midfielders dominated the opening stages, with Steele Sidebottom and Taylor Adams in particular doing plenty of damage.





Jack Riewoldt played virtually a lone hand for Richmond, kicking five goals and leading the charge as they got to within 21 points in the final term before the Pies wrestled back the ascendancy to kick the final three goals.

They will now await the result of tomorrow's preliminary final at Optus Stadium between West Coast and Melbourne to find out who they will take on in next Saturday's decider.

Tom Naghten

Tom Naghten Photo

Tom Naghten is a senior editor at The Sporting News Australia where he's been part of the team since 2017. He predominantly covers boxing and MMA. In his spare time, he likes to watch Robbie Ahmat's goal against the Kangaroos at the SCG in 2000.