AFL urged to outlaw ugly act as premiership winner called out
Updated . First published
Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd believes the AFL should crack down on Mason Cox and other players who pick fights after kicking a goal.
The Fremantle veteran has been known throughout his career to kick a set shot goal and then immediately get into it with the player who was standing on the mark.
Mason Cox of the Dockers wrestles with Mark Keane of the Crows. Getty
It occurred at the weekend during the win over Adelaide, with Cox getting into it with defender Mark Keane. The two played together at Collingwood earlier in their careers.
Cox charged at him after the goal, grabbed his jumper and began throwing jumper punches and screaming in his face, leading to a skirmish with other Adelaide players pouring in to support their teammate.
The AFL this season has cracked down on some aspects of taunting, paying free kicks or 50m penalties for players rubbing the hair of an opponent after they’ve given away a free kick.
Lloyd wonders why the league wouldn’t view Cox’s actions as, at the very least, the same level and worthy of a free kick.
He expects the AFL to crack down on it next season, saying it can escalate into brawls.
“What’s worse, the rubbing of the head, which I’m fine with (the AFL cracking down on) to cut that out of the game because it filters down to lower levels ... a few players have learned the hard way (with that rule),” Lloyd told Nine’s Footy Classified.
“Is this taunting what Mason Cox did on the weekend? He kicks a goal and goes charging after the guy on the mark in Mark Keane who just had the goal kicked on him and (Cox is) getting into his face.
“Is that taunting and should that be a free kick in the centre to the opposition team? (A brawl) is what it can lead to.
“I just think if the AFL is going to pay it with the rubbing of the head, well they should bring it to that as well.”
Brownlow Medallist Jimmy Bartel agrees, saying both actions should result in a free kick.
“I’m with Lloydy. You either pay none or you pay both,” he said.
The 35-year-old ruck-forward has played 154 career games, the majority of which for Collingwood after making the move from American college basketball to the AFL.
He played in the Pies’ 2023 premiership side before being delisted at the end of 2025.
Fremantle then scooped him up and he has seemingly overtaken Sean Darcy in their preferred side as the minor premiers charge towards finals.
Cox has kicked five goals this season from 15 games and is averaging 15 hit-outs per match.
