Collingwood’s Mason Cox issued an apology for inadvertently bumping into a GWS assistant coach during the warm-up session before their AFL Opening Round match on Saturday. Cox collided with Shane Mumford, a former player for Geelong, Sydney, and GWS, while participating in a rucking drill on the field prior to the Giants’ victory at the Sydney Showgrounds.
The AFL requested an explanation from Collingwood regarding the incident. The club clarified that Cox was engaged in a rucking drill and requested one more bounce from the umpire as GWS commenced their warm-up routine in the center circle. It was during this sequence that Cox unintentionally collided with Mumford, who was holding a ruck pad for his team’s practice.
Cox expressed regret for the contact, stating, “In the moment, I was solely focused on getting one more bounce in.” Collingwood’s general manager of football, Brendon Bolton, acknowledged the incident, describing it as a “period of transition in the center circle,” while also emphasizing the importance of avoiding contact with opposition officials or players before the game.
Collingwood is currently collaborating with the AFL to fully understand the circumstances surrounding the incident.