Brennan Cox has equalled Luke McPharlin’s record for the most marks in a single game by a Fremantle player, in an impressive individual performance against St Kilda on Sunday night.

Cox pulled down 20 marks under the Marvel Stadium lights, moving alongside McPharlin’s record.

McPharlin took 20 marks in two separate matches across 2006 and 2007, ironically with both of those games being against the Saints.

On top of Cox’s marking tally, the defender also enjoyed career-high numbers to open the 2023 season - including 30 disposals, 22 kicks and seven intercept marks.

The 24-year-old also had 453 metres gained and went at 90 per cent disposal efficiency on his way to 141 AFL Fantasy points.

Cox believes his record-equalling feat was simply the result of St Kilda’s tough defensive set-up, forcing Fremantle to kick laterally.

“I think my marks were mostly uncontested, I had a few in the contest but I was lucky to get some on the switch kick,” Cox said.

“They were pretty well set up and defending really well in that slow phase.

“We tried to hit that kick and speed it up, but it was hard to do that because they were really well set up defensively.”

Cox said there was an element of frustration given the playing group had entered into the clash with full preparation on how the Saints liked to play.

“We knew what the Saints were going to throw at us, but we got beaten by what we know,” Cox said.

“We came in prepared because we know what they were going to do, but we got beaten in the contest and they like to run and gun.

“As soon as they get into that mode it is hard to stop them.

“We will watch back the vision and see where we could’ve picked up things.”

Cox praised his fellow defenders for holding the fort well but said a few costly errors and lapse of concentration late in the game helped the Saints seal victory.

Hayden Young (30 disposals, 13 marks) and Jordan Clark (28 disposals, 11 marks) performed well, while Luke Ryan opened his 2023 campaign in strong fashion with a game-high 37 disposals and 775 metres gained.

“Late in the game a few of us made some errors and a few of us got off task, so we will need to tidy that up,” Cox said.

“Other than that, I thought we were pretty good throughout the game.

“Luke had a good game which was nice, the ‘bash brothers’ I think they call us, but it’s good to see him start the year well and hopefully he continues it.”

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