Mason Cox: American ruckman poised to make debut for Fremantle Dockers in western derby against West Coast

Mason Cox appears poised to make his long-awaited debut for Fremantle in Sunday’s blockbuster western derby after being named on an extended bench.

Meanwhile, Hayden Young has been locked in for his return from a hamstring injury, with the classy left-footer named in the midfield alongside Luke Jackson, Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw.

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Michael Frederick has overcome an ankle injury to earn selection Fremantle’s eight-man preliminary bench alongside Cox, Karl Worner, Neil Erasmus, Nathan O’Driscoll, Brandon Walker, Chris Wagner and Chris Scerri, which will be reduced to five on Friday afternoon.

The Dockers’ two confirmed changes from their win over Collingwood last week are ruckman Sean Darcy due to concussion and winger Jaeger O’Meara, who suffered multiple facial fractures from a hit at training on Wednesday.

Darcy’s absence appears to have paved the way for Cox, who headed west to join the Dockers after being de-listed by Collingwood last year, to make his first competitive appearance for his second club.

The American ruckman looks set to partner Jackson in the ruck as his side look to continue their dominant recent form over the Eagles, having won eight of their last nine games against their cross-town rivals.

The now 35-year-old was recruited by the Magpies out of a talent-spotting program in the USA in 2014 and went on to play 139 AFL games across his 10 seasons with the club, including their 2023 premiership win.

Despite Cox’s dominant form for Peel Thunder in the WAFL, Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir had retained his faith in Darcy for the early stages of the season.

Fremantle team for western derby against West Coast

B: B Cox A Pearce H Chapman

HB: J Clark L Ryan J McVee

C: M Reid A Brayshaw M Johnson

HF: I Dudley J Amiss S Switkowski

FF: S Bolton J Treacy P Voss

FOLL: L Jackson H Young C Serong

I/C: M Cox K Worner N Erasmus N O’Driscoll B Walker M Frederick C Wagner C Scerri

IN: H Young M Cox N O’Driscoll B Walker M Frederick

OUT: J O’Meara S Darcy (both injured)