Brennan Cox

Brennan Cox
Personal information
Full name	Brennan Cox
Date of birth	(1998-08-13) 13 August 1998 (age 26)
Original team(s)	Woodville-West Torrens (SANFL)
Draft	No. 41, 2016 AFL draft
Height	195 cm (6 ft 5 in)
Weight	100 kg (220 lb)
Position(s)	Key Defender / Key Forward
Club information
Current club	Fremantle
Number	36
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2017–	Fremantle	109 (31)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 22, 2024.
Career highlights
2018 AFL Rising Star nominee Beacon Award winner: 2018
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Brennan Cox (born 13 August 1998) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Early career

Originally from Woodville South in Adelaide, Cox played for Woodville-West Torrens in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) in 2016. He also represented South Australia at the 2016 AFL Under 18 Championships and was named as the centre-half back in the All-Australian team. ^[1]

AFL career

He was recruited as a versatile player to Fremantle with their third selection, 41st overall, in the 2016 AFL draft. ^[2] He made his AFL debut in round 12 of the 2017 AFL season against Brisbane at the Gabba, after playing well for Fremantle's reserves team, Peel Thunder, in the West Australian Football League (WAFL). ^[3] Cox kicked a career-high four goals during round 12 of the 2018 AFL season, for which he received a 2018 AFL Rising Star award nomination. ^[4]

After starting his career playing mostly as a forward between 2017 and 2019 Cox made his debut as a defender during the 2020 AFL season. ^[5] Cox made a case for All-Australian selection during the 2022 AFL season with his ability to shut down some of the best forwards in the competition, he was named in the initial 44-man squad but didn't make the final 22. ^[6] Cox played 23 games in 2022 a career best and also averaged 16.5 disposals a game which is elite for a key defender. ^[7] He finished the season polling runner-up in Fremantle's Best and fairest award. ^[8]

Round 1 of the 2023 AFL season against St Kilda saw Cox equal the Fremantle games record for most marks in a single game, collecting 20 marks and 30 disposals. ^[9] He was sent forward the next round against North Melbourne during the last quarter after Fremantle struggled to capitalize on their scoring opportunities, kicking a goal.

Already signed until 2024, Cox re-signed for a 6-year contract extension in October 2023 that will last until at least 2030. ^{[10] [11]}

Brennan made the line-up for Fremantle's opening game of the 2024 AFL season against the Brisbane Lions playing as a key forward. He kicked a goal during the 23 point come from behind win. Unfortunately, Cox suffered a hamstring injury in the final quarter after landing awkwardly whilst contesting for a mark. ^[12] Cox made his return to the AFL in round 17 of the 2024 AFL season after two weeks of managed minutes in the WAFL playing as a key defender. ^[13] Fremantle ended up being 51 point winners against a struggling Richmond side. ^[14]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of round 17 2023 ^[15]

Legend

G	Goals	K	Kicks	D	Disposals	T	Tackles
B	Behinds	H	Handballs	M	Marks

Season	Team	No.	Games	Totals							Averages (per game)							Votes
				G	B	K	H	D	M	T	G	B	K	H	D	M	T
2017	Fremantle	36	10	4	11	56	56	112	47	16	0.4	1.1	5.6	5.6	11.2	4.7	1.6	0
2018	Fremantle	36	16	18	14	105	80	185	70	39	1.1	0.9	6.6	5.0	11.6	4.4	2.4	1
2019	Fremantle	36	8	5	2	31	45	76	29	20	0.6	0.3	3.9	5.6	9.5	3.6	2.5	0
2020 [lower-alpha 1]	Fremantle	36	13	0	0	83	65	148	51	11	0.0	0.0	6.4	5.0	11.4	3.9	0.8	0
2021	Fremantle	36	12	0	0	87	55	142	56	11	0.0	0.0	7.3	4.6	11.8	4.7	0.9	0
2022	Fremantle	36	23	1	1	271	109	380	146	25	0.0	0.0	11.8	4.5	16.3	6.3	1.1	0
2023	Fremantle	36	16	1	0	174	103	277	117	14	0.0	0.0	7.3	4.6	11.8	4.7	0.9	0
Career			98	29	28	807	513	1320	516	136	0.3	0.3	7.5	4.9	12.5	4.8	1.5	1

Notes

1. The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

1. Turner, Matt (15 November 2016). "Brennan Cox is the forward who wants to defend". The Advertiser . Retrieved 8 June 2017.
2. Fee, Tom (25 November 2016). "Freo stand tall at AFL Draft". fremantlefc.com.au.
3. Lacy, Bridget (8 June 2017). "Sam Collins gets his shot as Dockers drop Matt Taberner against Brisbane". The West Australian. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
4. "NAB Rising Star Nomination for Cox". fremantlefc. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
5. "Why JL wants to keep Cox in defence". fremantlefc. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
6. "Two Freo stars in line for All Australian selection!". fremantlefc.com.au. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
7. "The numbers behind Fremantle Dockers defender Brennan Cox's compelling case for All-Australian selection". PerthNow. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
8. Schmook, Nathan (1 October 2022). "Purple reign: Gun Docker tops off dominant year with maiden Doig Medal". afl.com.au.
9. "Cox equals Freo record on disappointing night". fremantlefc. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
10. "Docker for life? Freo defender locked in on long-term deal". The West Australian. 22 September 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
11. "Key back's big deal!". fremantlefc.com.au. 22 September 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
12. Kirby, Aaron. "Brennan Cox: Fremantle Dockers star set to miss more than half the season amid surgery on hamstring". thewest.com. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
13. "TEAM: Cox returns!". fremantlefc.com.au. 4 July 2024.
14. "Freo gives lowly Tigers the heave-ho to continue top-four push". afl.com.au. 7 July 2024.
15. "Brennan Cox". AFL Tables. Retrieved 26 May 2022.

External links

• Brennan Cox's profile on the official website of the Fremantle Football Club
• Brennan Cox's playing statistics from AFL Tables
• Brennan Cox's WAFL statistics