Brennan Cox was turning heads at Fremantle well before his impressive showing in Freo’s clash with St Kilda at Domain Stadium.
Cox kicked his first AFL goal against the Saints on Sunday and had plenty more opportunities with four scoring shots on the night.
The 18-year-old slowed after picking up a leg injury in the third term but illustrated his aerial abilities, taking six marks including two strong contested marks early in the game.
Fremantle has debuted six players in 2017, including all four of their selections from the 2016 National Draft.
Small forward Hayden Ballantyne told The Sunday Times that Cox impressed him the most.
“Coxy is a real stand-out for me,” Ballantyne said.
“It will be good when he realises how good he can be because he’s a big man.
“He can jump, he can take a great mark, once it clicks with how good he can be, he’ll be a superstar of the game.”
Cox has played forward for most of his short career at Fremantle but the versatile key position player’s best football may come as a defender.
Senior coach Ross Lyon highlighted Cox’s defensive abilities at his weekly media conference last Wednesday, noting that Cox was named as the 2016 All Australian centre-half-back at the U18 National Championship.
Standing at 193cm, Cox said developing his marking will help no matter where he plays on the field.
“I’ve been trying to focus on using my strengths,” Cox said.
“I want to make the most out of my athleticism in marking, so I’m trying to go into games trying by using that and taking marks.
“And I was able to get my first goal, which was a bonus.
“After I took the mark and all the boys came up to me and said to settle and kick through the ball. I went back and luckily I slotted it.”
Sean Darcy, a fellow first year player, slotted his first AFL goal just minutes before Cox replicated the feat.
Cox spoke about sprinting to congratulate Darcy but said it was even better to be on the receiving end.
“It was a great goal from Sean, everyone got around him,” Cox said.
“I sprinted up to him just so I could give him a high five.
“But everyone getting around me - that felt so much better.”
