American Reacts to Mason Cox: Don't believe in never (American goes to AFL) 

He was put through his paces and he earned the respect of his team, his opponents and the Australian people. He is one of our sons now. He never gave up. He stuck by his team mates and he is loved for it.

I've got massive respect for Mason, he seems to be a great guy. He's an Australian citizen now and he's very welcome🙂🙂🙂🙂

My wifes uncle started the first Aussies rules league in America. The ironmongers.

Man you can’t imagine how passionate and brutal AFL supporters are. Mason played well, done good. Bravo!

FYI The bit about his first game is it was on ANZAC Day - our most sacred day. It’s a bit like your Memorial Day but we make a bigger deal of it than you guys (I’ve been in the States on Memorial Day) - it’s held in a similar esteem to how you view Independence Day. We see it as not only a tribute to our service men and women, but as a commemoration of the Gallipoli landings in WWI on 25 April 1915. We view this date as the founding of our national identity in both Australia & New Zealand. NB the Federation of Australia took place in 1901 - but during WW1 is where we really felt we became a nation and developed our culture of egalitarianism and mateship.

Now you understand why I've been trying to get America sold on the AFL for the past 27 years! Yes, that long. I got introduced to the AFL in 1994, when my girlfriend at the time (she lived in Melbourne) came to visit me in Nebraska. I saw it, and was hooked immediately (and that says a lot coming from a place where the State Religion is College Football). I saw my first match at the MCG in 1995, and haven't looked at anything NFL/gridiron ever since. Everyone nowadays has it lucky: back then, the internet was barely a thing, there wasn't a web browser, and the only footy coverage we had was a 1-hour highlights show on a 2-week time delay (the time it took to get the tape mailed from Australia to the US). Keep this up, and you're going to be in for a treat, because we now have live footy. If you have FS1, FS2, or Fox Soccer channel, you can catch matches live, which there should be 9 of them this weekend!

I am a crows supporter but have nothing but respect for Cox, he has done well to adapt to a sport which is not easy to play…we as Aussie’s are taught at an early age the skills to play AFL… for him to come in and learn the skill of the odd shaped ball at an older age is a testament to his character…the amount of skills required to play this game can not be under estimated.

Mason turned out to be a great player, & man we love him us Aussies.

He plays for my team. The Collingwood Magpies or we call them the Pies. Mason is our American Pie. There were not as many haters as they make it seem. He took a long time to get it together it but when he did, he really did. It takes a lot to learn a game you have never seen and then get good at it. It is a tough game. The last game was a Preliminary Final. Just before you see the American flag being held up near the end, his parents are to the left of it. They flew over to watch this game. It is funny to hear over 90,000 people yelling USA and when you did you knew American Pie had the ball. I love the MCG.

As a proud Aussie I’m LOVING discovering this channel this content and this community … keep em comin mate 🇦🇺💕🇺🇸💯

Love how you’re getting into the sport. Collingwood is the team many people love to hate. And it is not my team. But I had the distinct honor and pleasure of meeting Mason Cox here in Florida at the United States Australian Football League Nationals in 2019. Absolutely one of the nicest guys you ever wanna meet. Also had the pleasure of seeing him play live when I visited Australia to see my Bulldogs in person. Keep up he great reactions!

As an American myself, this sport has become my favorite and although they're not doing great this year, I'm a supporter of the Richmond Tigers. I'd like to recommend The Wounded Tiger - Richmond 2017 AFL Premiership Documentary. It's a great 20min documentary about their 2017 Season where they won the Grand Final for the first time in 37 years.

I got mad respect for him coming here to the other side of the planet to play our game. Witch in my opinion it is the hardest professional game on the planet 👍 he did way better then I ever thought a 7 foot American would do, just wish more would try because we only 27 million people here so they don't get the money I think they could if America got in on it

I found it fitting that the Collingwood assistant coach, Anthony Rocca (interviewed throughout including the last line), had a brother, Saverio. They both played for Collingwood when they were younger, but after retiring, Saverio went to the US and played in the NFL as a punter for the Eagles and Redskins. If anyone will understand sport switching, and teaching Americans to kick, its the Roccas.

There’s loads of yanks doing Aus reacts. Love yours the most though Ian. We Keep coming back legend.

That ANZAC day game. For Americans that don't know, ANZAC (Australia / New Zealand Armed Corps) Day is the equivalent to our Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Armed Forces Day, rolled into one. The entire country basically stops for that game, which is always Collingwood v. Essendon, and arguably has the 2nd highest attendance of any game in the season (second only to the Grand Final). It's a celebrated thing to play your first game. It's an even more celebrated thing when you kick your first goal... Mason Cox, in his first touch and possession of the football, with his first kick of the football, kicks his first goal, on ANZAC Day. Very few people, if any at all, can lay claim to that. That's why the commentators said "Can you believe that an American, in his first game, kicks the first goal, on ANZAC Day? That didn't happen!!!" Because it did. and then that Preliminary Final.. during the Finals, the teams in the top 8 positions in the competition play finals. Richmond, who were the 2017 premiers (they won the entire competition) were favored to win this game, as there were only 4 teams left. The winner of this final plays in the Grand Final (their Super Bowl), while the loser is out and starts planning for the next season. Richmond also happened to have a streak of 22 straight wins at the MCG, so they were clear favorites.. you see what happened.

Love the way you have falling in love with our crazy ass sport

Mate really enjoying these videos.. Very positive attitude. As someone who doesn't really follow afl you are making me realise how proud of this game I am. All the best for your channel. All the best from Melbourne

We have had some amazing Irish players as well.

10:20 These are Cox's parents, witnessing prolly his greatest game.

Awesome mate. I'm glad you're enjoying our sport. Spread the word over there!

Cox overcame a lot of obstacles to make it to the level he did and despite many teething problems I personally think he turned into a decent player. Not really the player who was going to regularly turn matches around, but decent enough to make a worthwhile contribution. Not sure whether he's reached the end of his AFL playing days yet but he proved an American with no idea of the game and from a country where AFL is almost an unknown sport could do it eventually, so he gets a thumbs up from me.

As an Australian and AFL fan, I have so much respect for Mason Cox. To not even know what AFL was and to become one our sport’s greatest players; that takes a lot of self-belief and courage.

Its a shame they didn't include the Grand Final part of the story, while heart breaking for them Mason played a hell of a game in my opinion kicking 2 goals and having a significant impact in the 2nd half which is another feather in his cap. That being said I'm a die hard West Coat supporter so im glad he didnt play TOO well :P

Ive got an American mate who came to Oz a few years ago and he now loves the game and still after playing 4 years or so

Just found this show. Mason Cox won it all this yr 2023 Collingwood Magpies defeated Brisbane Lions in a great AFL Grand Final. I had Mason at 6th best player for the Magpies. What a story. I saw him play Live in Rd1 at MCG as they def the Cats in frond of 90,000 .

man your so amazing come live here in aussie land we are all talking about you here .. in how much u love or game and country .....awesome respect for you brother

I was gutted with that game as I’m a Richmond tigers 🐯 fan but can’t take that effort away from him and his story is cool 👍🏻

Mason has the best mixed accent

Cox has had a fairly good run since he got here.. He's exceeded just about all expectations and been a trailblazer for other American athletes to aspire to... I look forward to the day... probably not for at least 20-30 years... when a USAFL Team has developed the skills and has the corporate support to cross the pond and challenge us on our home turf in our great game. I think the end result would still be what everyone expects... but that would certainly be one of the global sports events of the 21st century.

Funny enough the oldish man there Anthony Rocca that mentored and took Mason under his wing is the brother of Saverio Rocca that retired from AFL to travel to the US to play NFL as a kicker. Those two brothers were and still possibly are even at this retired age power kickers and can nail perfect goals at head height from around the half way mark inner square. 80+ meters.

Mason is a beast

That field is the Melbourne Cricket Ground MCG which holds in excess of 100,000 people,. Mason Cox was made very welcome at Collingwood.

That day against Richmond was a stunner. Richmond were champions the previous year and strongly favoured to win again in 2018 and, having easily defeated Collingwood twice during the season, were near certainties for another easy win that day but were totally humiliated by Cox and Collingwood. Five years on, he's had plenty more ups and downs but still there and now a worthy premiership player, playing an important role in what has been called the best ever grand final - a tight tussle against Brisbane who had also easily defeated Collingwood twice during the 2023 season.

I am West Aussie and support the West Coast Eagles, 2018 Grand final is regarded as one the best modern days games, Mason Cox gave us a big scare, the Maggies lead the match early and until Dom Sheed kicked a goal with 2 minutes left.

Hey man, really enjoy your reactions. Very earnest and has a positive vibe in them. Keep it up! Cheers

I'm not a Collingwood supporter but alot of people I know know are, but kudos to him for taking a huge risk and playing a sport you've never heard of and travelling to the other side of the ocean to do that.

Australians breaking into the NFL have an easier road to travel than Americans breaking into the AFL. Total respect to Nathan. It takes pure balls of steel to come into to toughest foot ball game on the globe and have a go. Especial after watching the AFL's hardest hits. Respect to his parents too they where here for him. Great family indeed.

11:33 that video in the bottom right corner, definitely watch that interview with Paul McAfee! I'm not even a Collingwood supporter and I really like that video, Mason became quite a character on social media as well :)

Once again, great story from you Ian. You never fail to deliver, always so positive and interesting 👍 Just on the AFL Grand Fiinal, Brisbane and Perth had the honour and privilege of hosting the 2020 and 2021 GFs respectively due to COVID lockdowns in Melbourne. BUT, the MCG is and always will be the Holy Grail of footy. There is nothing like grand final day at the 'G' with 100k fans belting out songs like 'One Day in September' and the iconic footy anthem 'Up There Cazaly' (a must to listen to - we salute you Mike Brady and the Two Man Band). Gives me goosebumps thinking about it. 🍻

What an awesome effort. Played hard, done good.

He's the first American to play AFL but not the first North American....that honour goes to Canadian Mike Pyke, a former rugby international. He played for the Sydney Swans and eventually played in the 2012 Grand Final win and was one of the Swans best players on the day.....but the Mason Cox story is also great! It was a huge and courageous gamble for him to leave home and job security to go to the other side of the world with no guarantee of success.

We have had many people from many Nations come to us and do well at footy. The most prevalent though are those from Ireland who have a background in Gaelic Football. We now have Sudanese refugees kids who play our sport at the highest level... The Western Bulldogs had a player of Vietnamese descent playing for them (and it is VERY unusual for an Asian to take on our game)!

I'm not a fan of Collingwood, but I tip my hat to Mason Cox for coming halfway across the world to play a sport at professional level that he'd never heard of. He's been out of form this season and hasn't played much, but there are plenty of games to go. Also, there was a Canadian rugby player called Mike Pyke who made a similar transition to AFL many years ago and actually has a Grand Final medal with the Sydney Swans, but he has long since retired.

Great reaction bud. Keep them coming

in 2018 collingwood made it to the Grand final, which they lost to the west coast eagles. it was the difference of a goal, and collingwood played amazingly. (but I'm an eagles supporter haha)

That final was the preliminary final, playing for a spot in the grand final. Biggest game of the season outside of the grand final. Mason kicked 5 goals and dominated. The other team Richmond won the premiership in 2017, 2019 and 2020. Nobody gave Collingwood a chance in that game. Sadly they went on to lose the Grand Final by 5 points the next week.

that last match against Richmond, was Preliminary Final, Richmond was the top team all year, they had won the previous year Grand Final and then 2019 & 2020 - so absolutely smoking it!!! Mason Cox had an absolute blinder (aussie slang for sensational). There is footage of a man at 10.21 filming on his phone, that is his dad (mum next to him) who flew out to watch this match. All supporters are very passionate, and there was several times where the Collingwood supporters started to chant USA, USA, USA, and it reverberated around the MCG - which is a coliseum - forget the 90,000 you hear commentators talk about, there was 95,000 fans in there, and the capacity is just over 100K The atmosphere is just electric, especially if your team is winning, it's not so great if you are on the other side - which unfortunately Collingwood felt the following week in Grand Final when the other team basically won in the last few seconds of the match.

Mason is now a premiership player as of2023 he has become a very important player for Collingwood,there definitely should be a sequel to that doco, his story is my favourite in world sport,go pies

As the coach said, who would have thought five years ago, he would be at that stage; so it wasn't a matter of just playing, he had to put in the time and effort. As of 2023, Mason is still making appearances in the AFL; and is a lot more settled, in this new environment.

Loved the review mate

He’s not the most consistent, but when he’s good, he’s fabulous!!

True Aussie style. Toughness will get you there!

At 9:06, just wanna point out, when he caught that mark, he had a free kick right in front of goals but decided to play on (you get the choice) and let himself get tackled hahahaha, holy shit that would have stung. Edit: Also, if the ball stays within the line it stays in play, but throwing the ball is a foul, so he double lost it, damn.

What a great player who played for The Collingwood Football Club (The Magpies- Black And White Bar's) whom never knew about Australian Rules. I remember the Anzac game against Essendon Football Club (The Bombers - Black Jumper With A Red Stripe) when he marked the ball (caught the ball) and kicked his first goal (6pts inbetween The Two Middle Post) and The First American to play in The Grand Final (American Version Of The Superbowl)... Unfortunately The Magpies Didn't Win BUT If They Did wow What A Different Story This Would Have Became. ay 💯

Love your afl shows

Great reaction. Dustin Martin is a good example of a current player in his prime (2017 highlights video is a good one)

As a Richmond supporter, this is probably the hardest thing that I will ever say but his coach Nathan Buckley is probably one of the nicest guys in the sport and I'm sure it played a big part in Mason's eventual success. Shame they both played for our mortal enemy.

He's getting better as the years go bye

Afl here comes the boom mate. Great video!

We love mason cox in melbourne

It's a great story isn't it we Aussies are proud of him as well

One of the most beloved footy players was an Irishman. Jimmy Stynes.

Banger bro ✊🏾🔥

Brother you gotta watch AFL greatest, and longest goals, the night of that preliminary final against Richmond we were camping in the bush listening on the radio, we weren’t expected to win that night, but up rose this American, I near blew my speakers up on the radio the commentators were going ape shit especially about mason Cox, the crowd was chanting USA every time he marked the ball and kicked a goal, also his parents were there too

You’ve gained my attention More AFL!

Hate Collingwood, loved what Cox did against the Tigers. He's a funny guy on SM as well. Sadly his time is probably up in footy but good on him for what he did 👍 All the haters against him never even got a kick

Thats Anthony Rocca Punted in the NFL after he retired from AFL , now kicking coach , there are more Aussies going to the USA as punters from Pro Kick Australia than Yanks coming to Australia , very hard to learn a game that Aussie kids play as soon as they can walk , a lot easier for an Aussie who has been kicking a football all his life to go and punt a ball in the NFL

geelong supporter but what a great bloke love it

You don’t see it on TV but when your kicking for a goal from the side you could be 15-25 yards out and you only have about yard between posts to aim for

Mason plays for the best team Collingwood Magpies, yes they are the most loved and hated team in the country. But we've had some of our AFL and NRL players come over and played NFL guy in the early 80's one from Collingwood and two others that were punters, Darren Hayne kick/punt returner/ running back. Remember Darren Bennet's played for the chargers was asked how far can you kick the ball. So kicked it from back of one end zone to the other. They also asked how many times can you do that....did it 10 times think In a row.

He's not the first foreign import player. Jim Stynes was taken from Gaelic football in Ireland and went on to win the Brownlow medal and playing the most consecutive games in history ( he didn't miss a game in 11 years. )

Mason wasn't the first person from the Americas to play AFL, Mike Pyke was born in Canada to Australian parents, and played for Sydney Swans fron 2008. The main internationals playing AFL, are from Ireland.

What a great reaction video! Have you had chance to watch a full game?

Just played his 100th game and kicked a couple of goals 💪💪💪

Good old Collingwood Forever !!

A point that you may not have picked up yet is that if you "catch" a ball that has been kicked and that hasn't touched the ground or someone else, that is called a Mark. All others are basically catching the ball or colloquially "grabbing" the ball.

Great AFL content mate, can’t wait until you react to dusty Martin he is a beast

Imagine if he marked at the end on the siren in the grand final and kicked it

To update Mason’s story, last month he became a championship player after Collingwood won the AFL championship

something you probably didn't pick up on is his hybrid Aussie/ yank accent, certain words were pure yank, and his ' A's and ' I's ' are pure Aussie... good on him👍👍👍

He is definitely got the Australian accent developing.

That’s my American flag in the crowd

Cool story.

The MCG is in Richmond so its a home game for them.

Checkout the NRL from Australia. State Of Origin is a big part of the year in NRL,

They had the idea of training a giant but he did have a natural ability to handle the ball. They trialled maybe 70 dudes and picked 1

The greatest goal kicker of the game Tony locket 1300 goals

he's accent is mixed usa and aussie its sick as

Hope to take you to an AFL game after we can all travel overseas

hey bud ESSENDON BOMBERS are the team to go for there black and red jumpers

When he kicks a goal the crowd chants USA USA USA

He is not the only American to play for in the AFL.

Anzac day is like one the biggest day other then the grand final it remember our people who fought in the war. Yes the elbow did get suspension

AFL biggest hits part 1 reaction Ian. Love your reactions bro.

That's what I think is the problem with the NFL, there are so many overseas athletes that may do well but there are no lower leagues that allow them to learn the game. I would love to see more rugby players in the NFL.

Wow he sounds like an Aussie

When then Vice President Biden visited Australia, he went to a footy game and Mason Cox sat next to him to explain the rules. I wonder if there will be a presidential visit. Unfortunately (I'm a pies supporter) there was a lot of off field pre and early season turmoil at Collingwood this year. 'Bucks" (Nathan Buckley, the coach in the video) is gone. Only one round left before the finals and Collingwood won't make it. "here's always next year."

How about showing us what the USAFL is like, I'm really interested in seeing all American teams playing the greatest footy game ever, (bit biased perhaps lol).

Take a look at Australia vs Ireland international rules different again blend of both games alf and Gaelic football