COX ON THE UP
January 26th 2007 19:40
" alt="* Cox: "It's harder than Willy"
Cox ready for the big time
4:12:11 PM Thu 25 January, 2007
collingwoodfc.com.au
In the space of 12 months, young Magpie Shannon Cox has gone from being on the Collingwood rookie list and playing Williamstown reserves, to earning a place on the senior list, with high hopes of wearing the famous black and white stripes in 2007.
Cox, who hails from South Fremantle in Western Australia, spoke to collingwoodfc.com.au on Thursday at the Lexus Centre about the difficulties he faced when he first moved to Melbourne, his first year at the club, Arizona, and the season ahead.
By the end of 2006 Cox had earned a permanent place in the Williamstown seniors and impressed all with his pace, confidence and good hands, prompting him to focus on taking the next step. He said he was "over the moon" when national recruiting manager Derek Hine tapped him on the shoulder and said Cox would be on the senior list in 2007.
"I hope to get a couple of senior (AFL) games under my belt (in 2007)," Cox said.
"It’s going to be pretty hard to do with how the team’s looking this year, but first aim is the Sydney scratch match (February 16), and hopefully go forward from there.
"I don’t want to set my goals too high, rather take it step by step. From Sydney there is the pre-season cup, and from there hopefully I can get a game, I want at least three games this year, not set my goals too high."
By his own admission the first preseason was tough as he battled homesickness and a burning desire to return home to his family, but now after more than a year at the club and some incredible experiences, the 20-year-old is ready to make his mark.
"In the first preseason I was really homesick. I just wanted to train until the Christmas break and then go home, I just really wanted to get home and be with family again", Cox added.
"Then when we came back after the Christmas break it was really different. The boys were all really good, because we were all trying out for rookie spots so we were only basically here for a little bit before the Christmas break.
"Up until then I hadn’t done a preseason in my life, I’d just turn up about three weeks before the games would start and I would play, and now in my second preseason, last year was a really big help."
Having played in a number of positions at South Fremantle including the ruck, the 190-centimetre Cox played full forward for the Williamstown reserves before winning promotion to the Seagulls’ senior line-up. He was moved to a back flank for the first time in his career, a move that paid off.
"I played back flank and that was really good, I hadn’t seen anything past ruck and going to the back flank opened up my eyes a bit.
"I learnt to read the play really well and move the ball. Mick (senior coach Mick Malthouse) has had me training on a wing, so he wants me to be a wingman, but I’d like to see myself as a forward flank, swapping back flank.
"I don’t mind kicking a goal, but I mean doing the team things as well, so other boys can kick the goals.
"It’s all about team things, just kicking the goals doesn’t mean everything. Winning is the main thing you want to do, playing back or forward."
Like so many of his teammates, Cox was full of praise for the club’s high-altitude training camp at Northern Arizona University back in November, the first time Cox took part after being drafted after the 2005 trip.
"We went to Arizona and I did things over there I didn’t think my body would be able to do, so it’s a really big help doing the second preseason, it’s helped my body so much.
"I expected it to be hard but when I got over there and did the training sessions they were probably some of the hardest training sessions I’ve done in my entire life."
"Some days we’d do a training session and the next day I could barely walk, the body was absolutely worn out to the max. But I got through, and now I realise what my body can do, I got through and it’s helped me mentally as well as physically."
Cox, who has been handed the No.12 guernsey for the 2007 season and beyond, also described his best footballing attributes, and Collingwood supporters will be delighted to know another tall, athletic youngster is coming through the ranks.
"I’ve got a fairly good leap, my athleticism helps me a fair bit on the oval, being able to move around, and bend down really low, and move sideways, it helps me a hell of a lot."
Shannon Cox images: Copyright Collingwood Football Club
" alt="* There is a fair bit of spring in this Cox
| 29 |
| Vote |
Subscribe to this blog
