Mason Cox has barely settled in Western Australia and already he is sounding like a local in one respect: his love life still has not improved. The 35-year-old, who was let go by Collingwood last year before moving west, joked that his answer to finding a partner might be to “put a few resumes together” during an interview on Mix94.5.
Cox said he was “looking at the call line” and had seen “nothing” come up, then added, “I think one of the biggest things for if I stay in Australia is whether or not I find a partner in the next few years,” before noting he could head back to America if that does not happen before his AFL career ends. He also pointed to his family, saying he has a contract in Australia for the next 18 months and that his brother is having a child soon, so if he is away from them after football, “there’s got to be a decent reason” to stay.
The comments came as Fremantle chased a club-record 10th straight win on Friday, with Cox now part of a side that has quickly embraced him since his move. The Texas-born player made his Dockers debut in the derby and then backed it up the following week by kicking two goals against Carlton, a performance that drew loud cheers from Fremantle supporters and helped underline how quickly he has become a popular figure at the club.
That quick connection has given Cox a new base in Australia, but his remarks made clear the move has not changed the biggest question hanging over his off-field future. He said he remains a strong family man, and his willingness to return to the United States if he does not settle down before the end of his AFL career suggests his long-term plans are still tied as much to home as to football.
For Fremantle, the story is straightforward on the field: a 2023 premiership player with a well-known profile is helping add depth and attention to a side in pursuit of a historic run. Off the field, Cox’s blunt assessment of his prospects leaves one thing plain — if his time in Australia lasts beyond the next 18 months, it may owe as much to romance as to footy.
