Collingwood have delisted Mason Cox, the first American to become a regular AFL player, after 11 years and 139 games at the club. The 34-year-old ruck-forward confirmed in an Instagram video that he will not be with the Magpies in 2026.
“It’s crazy to think that you’d never heard of a sport … to then being a premiership player,” Cox said. He thanked the club and supporters, adding: “To the Collingwood supporters, the best supporters in the world … the feeling of having 100,000 people screaming USA at the MCG is something I’ll never take for granted.”
Cox did not confirm whether he intends to retire or seek a contract elsewhere, but said he was “pretty excited about what’s next”. The 211cm forward famously debuted on Anzac Day 2016, kicking the first goal in front of 85,082 fans at the MCG.
Originally a college basketballer, Cox was signed as an international rookie in 2014 after impressing at combines in Los Angeles and Australia. He became a regular in 2018, producing a standout preliminary final performance to help Collingwood reach the grand final, where they lost to West Coast. Cox later became a premiership player in 2023 when the Magpies defeated Brisbane.
Cox, who became an Australian citizen in 2022, played 10 games in 2025, including both finals. He ends his Collingwood career with 127 goals, having worn protective goggles in recent seasons due to a serious eye injury.
