Brennan Cox has signed a bumper six-year contract extension that will see the key defender at the Club until at least the end of the 2030 season.
Previously signed on until 2024, the deal will go a long way to making Cox a one-club player, with the 25-year-old to come out of contract in the year he turns 32.
Cox was drafted to Fremantle in 2016 at no.41, as a part of a class that also included Sean Darcy (no.38) and Luke Ryan (no.66).
He has 102 games to his name, playing his 100-game milestone in the round 22 RAC Derby.
Cox placed ninth in Fremantle’s 2023 Doig Medal, a year after his runner-up finish in 2022 where he was also named in the All-Australian squad.
He is now Fremantle’s longest-committed player, with Luke Jackson and Jye Amiss signed on until 2029 and Caleb Serong and Luke Ryan until 2027.
Cox said his best football and Fremantle’s best football is yet to come.
“I really enjoy being here and I’m really driven to be part of that group that brings the first premiership to Fremantle,” Cox said.
“I love the boys here and I’ve built a really good connection, lifestyle and home here, so it was an easy decision in the end.”
Cox said he was excited to be part of Fremantle’s tall backline stocks, which includes Luke Ryan, Alex Pearce and Joel Hamling.
“All over the team we’re pretty young and a lot of the boys have signed on, so it’s going to be the same group for a fair while and I’m excited to see the growth in the younger boys,” Cox said.
“I obviously have those connections with the likes of Luke (Ryan) and ‘Moose’ (Alex Pearce) and over the past few years I feel like we’ve really built something as a back six and I feel like we can really grow and take it to another level next year.”
Highlighting his leadership as an area of growth, Cox praised senior coach Justin Longmuir and backline coach Matthew Boyd for enabling him to mature as a player since arriving at the Club.
“Naturally, I’m not really much of a leader, it’s something I have to work on. On the field I feel like I am but away from the field it’s something I have to work on,” Cox said.
Coming through the doors I was probably a bit immature which most people are at 18 but through the help of ‘JL’ (Justin Longmuir) and my line coaches, especially ‘Boydy’ (Matthew Boyd) I’ve been able to grow and mature over the years.”
A product of Woodville-West Torrens in South Australia, Cox committed to his new life at Fremantle in WA instead of being lured back to South Australia.
Head of Player Personnel David Walls said Cox’s signature was a crucial one considering the current high demand for key defenders in the AFL system.
“It’s well deserved for Brennan, he’s taken his game ahead in leaps and bounds and we’re rapt to have him as a Docker for life,” Walls said.
“Coxy is crucial for us. Key defenders are just so sought after - just look at what’s happening in the market at the moment with the offers to other key defenders - but we’ve also seen him go forward and he looks dangerous there as well.”
Walls said Cox’s commitment to Fremantle was clear when negotiating the contract.
“Brennan’s a real Club person, we’ve loved to be able to negotiate this with Coxy and Dave Trotter, his manager at Hemisphere,” Walls said.
“It’s great to not only have Brennan but his family around the Club as well. Leighton and Leanne, his mum and dad, are great Club people.
“They often travel to Perth and are always involved in the social side of things with other families and making it a real footy Club.
“When we play in Adelaide, they always host and put a function on for family and staff at their pub, and they do that all off their own bat.
“Brennan’s all in with Freo and where we’re going and what we’re about, and we feel he’s only going to get better and better.”
The Continental Tyres AFL Trade Period will commence on Monday 9 October and close on Wednesday 18 October.
