As he enters the second year of his AFL career, Mason Cox is confident he is steadily progressing closer to his first senior game.

This time last year Cox had never played an AFL game. 12 months later he enters his second season ready to take a giant step forward.

"Obviously that's up to [the selectors], but I think I had a pretty solid first year," Cox told Matt Murnane of The Age.

"So as long as everything kind of stays healthy and I keep progressing well, hopefully I will be a chance to play ones this year."

Speaking to Murnane at Collingwood Community Camp in Stawell, Cox stated his confidence received a boost in round 21 last year when fellow American Jason Holmes made his AFL debut for St Kilda.

"It gives you a bit more of a kick in the butt to try and do better, I guess, to see someone like Jason succeed and show it is possible," Cox said. "You kind of want to be up in the same position as he is.

"Everyone kind of rolls the red carpet out for you when you first get here and say, 'oh, you will get a game in x amount of years'. But to see it actually happen, it's now not something that people just talk about, it's real."

The weekend of Holmes' debut was an eventful one for the few Americans attempting to establish themselves in the AFL. 

Earlier in the day, Cox played a breakout VFL game against Richmond, kicking five goals in a dominant forwardline performance.

"It was the first time I had a game where I just felt comfortable and everything kind of flowed together," the 24-year-old told Murnane. 

"Obviously you have ups and downs in games and stuff, but that was one of those games where you felt like you couldn't miss, you know?"

Cox will attempt to replicate the form when his second season begins at Collingwood’s intra-club match on Thursday night. 

It is here where he will no doubt enter a fierce ruck dual with the rapidly improving Brodie Grundy and Jarrod Witts.

However he is hoping there is more he can add to the Collingwood side than just height. 

"To be able to play in the ruck and then go forward and not just be an extra guy - actually be a part of the forward line - I'm hoping that can be a strength of mine," he said.

"I was always told as a kid, 'you can't teach height'. And being somewhat of an agile big man that definitely helps as well."



Cox embraces fellow American Jason Holmes after Collingwood's VFL Semi Final against Sandringham.