AFL reportedly issues Mason Cox a please explain after ‘bizarre’ pre-game act

The AFL has reportedly issued Mason Cox a ‘please explain’ following a pre-game incident involving the Collingwood ruck that Giants star Brent Daniels labelled “bizarre”.

Multiple outlets on Sunday night reported the AFL was keen for an explanation around Cox’s contact with Giants ruck coach Shane Mumford prior to Saturday night’s fiery clash at Engie Stadium.

Cox minutes before the first bounce was seen briefly pushing Mumford in the back at a Giants ruck drill before grabbing the ball and running away with it.

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AFL Media reported neither Mumford or the Giants had flagged any issues or concerns with the league following the incident.

The Herald Sun reported on Sunday night that Cox believed he was retrieving a Sherrin the Magpies had been using before the two teams had swapped positions for centre bounce stoppage practice.

Cox posted an Instagram story on Sunday — which is now deleted — claiming there was “lots of false commentary” around the incident and would elaborate on his version of events in the coming days.

But Daniels and other Giants players were left bemused by the incident.

“I guess Mason likes to say things to get a bit of a headline. He likes the limelight,” Daniels told Channel 9’s The Sunday Footy Show.

“What he did before the game I thought was really bizarre, a bit of carry on I thought.

“I like to think we’re really humble and hungry as a team and to see that, it wasn’t a good look. If you want to do that you want to back it up on the field.

“We didn’t read too much into it. His comments grab media and that’s what he wants so we didn’t read into it too much.

“ … ‘Mummy’ (Mumford) doesn’t usually hold back, so luckily he did this time.”

Cox endured a tough night, finishing with five disposals, one mark and 19 hit-outs (seven to advantage) in the Magpies’ 32-point loss to the Giants.

It came after Cox took aim at the Giants when the Opening Round fixture was announced last year, tweeting: “Round 1 NRL goes to Las Vegas. AFL premiers go to … A showground for livestock.” Giants chief executive Dave Matthews labelled Cox’s sledge as “D-grade comedy”.

The Giants also made good on their promise to host a ‘Mason Cox petting zoo’ on Saturday night.

Despite Cox’s quiet game, Collingwood coach Craig McRae said he was “OK with a bit of banter”.

“I like the banter of footy. I like the build-up. If it means a sell-out crowd, how good,” McRae told reporters post-match.

“I didn’t get caught up in the circus stuff around the edges of it, nor should I, I’m here to coach the team and we didn’t get the job done.

“The circus stuff around the edges doesn’t influence us. We’re here to entertain, but entertain by winning stoppages, connecting inside 50 and playing our style. But we didn’t do that.”