Collingwood big man Mason Cox has confirmed that he's hit a contract trigger for 2023 at the Magpies, but he revealed that at the beginning of the season, he thought his career might have been over.
Speaking to Fox Footy, Cox opened up on his mid-season return to the senior side, his love outside of football and how he relishes finals footy.
After only featuring in two games for Collingwood in the first five rounds, Cox returned to the AFL side in Round 10 and hasn't looked back since as the Magpies stormed home to finish in the top four at season's end.
In doing so, Cox confirmed that he will have a contract at Collingwood next season after triggering a clause in his contract that was due to expire at the end of the year, despite early season doubts.
"I have hit a trigger for next year so hopefully I'll be playing here (Collingwood). Obviously there's always a chance something might change, whatever it is, but as of right now I've got a contract here next year," Cox said.
"I didn't really think that'd happen at the beginning of the year, to be honest, I thought I'd probably retire at the beginning of the year.
"We played Brisbane in Round 5, I didn't play so well and my brother was in town. I had a chat with him wondering what I should do. He said to make the most of the next 18 weeks left in the season and you'll figure it out then, and to start putting steeping blocks in to be able to have something to walk into."
The 31-year-old put that advice into action, getting further involved in his love for media and radio which was not only beneficial off the field but his on field experience.
"I started a podcast, I started doing a bit more radio and media - that's something I'm passionate about. It helped me have something to come back to outside of AFL and footy that you know you value and can take your mind away from it," Cox said.
"That's helped me in a sense to play better on field and have a more enjoyable experience all around. Playing games and winning definitely helps, but for a decent amount of time I was thinking, if at the end of the year they don't give me a contract and no one else wants to, that's it, and I'd be pretty proud of what I accomplished.
"Things change and people get injured. People keep telling me footy is a marathon not a sprint. I've been fortunate to get another opportunity and be able to show what I'm worth. I've been very appreciative to be able to have that, and it makes you think back to some of those times when things were fleeting."
With Collingwood set to face Fremantle on Saturday night in the semi-final in front of another packed MCG, Cox is no stranger to playing on the big stage and said he is relishing every opportunity he gets to perform in September.
"Sometimes on the big stage you sit back and think, 'f***, how good is this? Let's make the most of this thing.' That's probably where I get it from," he said.
"I enjoy these experiences. These are very minimal times in your life that come around and you've got to try and make the most of them.
"I always find it funny, because I didn't even know what AFL was and now I'm thrown into this somewhat baptism of fire of Melbourne media, scrutiny and support and all the stuff that comes with it.
"To me it's just an awesome life experience more than anything, it's all about the journey and being able to play AFL."
After their qualifying final loss to Geelong on Saturday, their battle against Fremantle looks set to be another blockbuster, with the winner setting up a preliminary final date at the SCG agains the red-hot Swans.
