Dean Cox

Cox was a naturally gifted sportsman who excelled at sports whilst growing up in Dampier, Western Australia. Played for Dampier Sharks.

His uncle George Michalczyk, a former Australian rules player himself, recommended Cox to the club he began his senior career with, East Perth.

Cox played colts for East Perth in 1999 and at the end of the season was invited to train with the West Coast Eagles in their pre-season. He impressed enough for him to be rookie-listed, however he struggled in pre-season training and was criticised for being slightly uncoordinated.

Meanwhile, he played senior football for East Perth. He began the season fifth in the order of an impressive list of ruckmen, but by season's end he had impressed so much he earned a place as the first ruckman in their grand final team and collected a Simpson Medal for his efforts.

The Eagles then put him on their senior list and he made his AFL debut in 2001. Initially he showed few signs of his potential at that level. However, he was persisted with.

He came of age during the 2005 season, where he became a dominant player for the Eagles and is now considered one of their best.

He topped the year off with a terrific finals series, living up to his high standards. Two incidents stand out in particular for Cox – one where in the Qualifying Final against Sydney he took two saving marks in defence to secure the game in the dying moments, where his team got home by less than a goal. The other moment that stands out had the Eagles on the other end, where in the Grand Final three weeks later, also against Sydney, he took a strong mark on the half-forward line and speared the ball in towards a pack in the dying moments. Leo Barry took the game-saving mark from the kick, which secured the Swans a victory by less than a goal.

Cox got off to a superb start to the season and was one of the premier players in the competition early. He continued his good form and established himself as one of the league's premier ruckmen, averaging over 20 hitouts and almost 20 disposals per game through Round 8 of the 2006 Season. However, in Round 13 he collided with a hard bump from Bulldog Adam Cooney, which left him with a broken collar bone. Cox returned to the side, and was a key figure in the Eagles thrilling 1 point win of Sydney in the 2006 AFL Grand Final, where he dominated against Sydney ruckman Stephen Doyle and Darren Jolly. Cox played 21 games in 2006, taking 141 marks and kicking 14 goals.

Cox played 21 games in 2007 and all 22 in 2008 as the club missed the finals, in what was a turbulent few years. The departure of Ben Cousins and Chris Judd (Carlton) and questions surrounding the clubs culture meant that Cox had to step up. Many thought he would be appointed Captain for 2008, but the position was awarded to Darren Glass. Cox made the All-Australian Team in both of these years, continuing to be the dominant ruckman of the competition despite playing in a struggling side (mostly in 2008). He also did no harm to his reputation as a ruckman/midfielder, collecting 25 disposals or more 5 times in 2007, and 7 times in 2008, and regularly featuring among the best. Standout games included the Semi-Final against Collingwood in 2007 that went to extra time (which West Coast lost), where Cox collected 27 disposals, 9 marks, 29 hitouts and a goal. In Round 10 of 2008 against Collingwood, again an Eagles loss, Cox gathered 30 disposals, 7 marks, 36 hitouts and kicked two goals.

Cox finished his career with 6,628 hitouts, an AFL record at the time of his retirement.[http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players.html#t6 Career Totals and Averages: Hit Outs] – AFL Tables. Retrieved 31 August 2014.

{{BLP unsourced section|date=November 2024}}

Cox was a very versatile ruckman, who tends to cover much ground. Sometimes considered to be the Eagles 'fifth midfielder', Cox is a modern example of a mobile ruckman. He effectively wins knock-outs and can assist the likes of midfielders Daniel Kerr, Matthew Priddis and Matt Rosa. Cox was widely considered as the premier ruckman of the competition, as seen by his selection in six All-Australian teams.

Cox joined the Sydney Swans as an assistant coach under senior John Longmire at the end of the 2017 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/452/coaches-dean-cox|title=Coaches: Dean Cox|date=22 November 2019|access-date=26 November 2024}} On 26 November 2024, two months after the club suffered a 60-point loss to {{AFL BL}} in the Grand Final, the club announced Longmire's resignation as senior coach and that Longmire would hand the senior coach role to assistant coach Cox, who becomes the 46th senior coach of the Sydney Swans.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-26/end-of-an-era-as-john-longmire-quits-as-sydney-swans-coach/104646654|title=John Longmire quits as Sydney Swans head coach after 14 years, moves to new executive position as Dean Cox takes over|date=26 November 2024|access-date=26 November 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/swans-to-make-announcement-amid-speculation-longmire-has-quit-20241126-p5ktie.html|title=Longmire stands down as Swans coach, Cox to take reins|date=26 November 2024|access-date=26 November 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/sydney-swans-drop-bombshell-as-john-longmire-walks-away/news-story/b4fc5593e352d595b2e17ab8a40f1f57|title=Sad ‘falling out’ in middle of John Longmire Swans bombshell|date=26 November 2024|access-date=26 November 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/nov/26/john-longmire-sydney-swans-coach-future-annoucement-afl|title=John Longmire quits as Sydney Swans coach with Dean Cox to take charge of AFL club|date=26 November 2024|access-date=26 November 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/sydney-coach-john-longmire-quits/news-story/7421e242e7d16623e315c2b2c4a377c1|title=John Longmire to quit Swans, Dean Cox to replace him as senior coach|date=26 November 2024|access-date=26 November 2024}}

:{{cite web|url=http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/D/Dean_Cox.html|title=Dean Cox|work=AFL Tables|access-date=11 September 2014}}

{{AFL player statistics legend/ruckman}}

{{AFL player statistics start/ruckman}}

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2001

|{{AFL WC}}

| 20 || 17 || 2 || 2 || 62 || 69 || 131 || 38 || 18 || 184 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 3.6 || 4.1 || 7.7 || 2.2 || 1.1 || 10.8

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2002

|{{AFL WC}}

| 20 || 19 || 7 || 1 || 96 || 97 || 193 || 82 || 17 || 307 || 0.4 || 0.1 || 5.1 || 5.1 || 10.2 || 4.3 || 0.9 || 16.2

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2003

|{{AFL WC}}

| 20 || 19 || 10 || 3 || 125 || 88 || 213 || 74 || 12 || 332 || 0.5 || 0.2 || 6.6 || 4.6 || 11.2 || 3.9 || 0.6 || 17.5

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2004

|{{AFL WC}}

| 20 || 23 || 5 || 10 || 172 || 142 || 314 || 117 || 37 || 512 || 0.2 || 0.4 || 7.5 || 6.2 || 13.7 || 5.1 || 1.6 || 22.3

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2005

|{{AFL WC}}

| 20 || 25 || 22 || 3 || 257 || 152 || 409 || 163 || 29 || 595 || 0.9 || 0.1 || 10.3 || 6.1 || 16.4 || 6.5 || 1.2 || 23.8

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2006

|{{AFL WC}}

| 20 || 21 || 14 || 9 || 233 || 146 || 379 || 141 || 27 || 449 || 0.7 || 0.4 || 11.1 || 7.0 || 18.0 || 6.7 || 1.3 || 21.4

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2007

|{{AFL WC}}

| 20 || 21 || 13 || 9 || 234 || 163 || 397 || 155 || 23 || 449 || 0.6 || 0.4 || 11.1 || 7.8 || 18.9 || 7.4 || 1.1 || 21.4

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2008

|{{AFL WC}}

| 20 || 22 || 9 || 10 || 233 || 253 || 486 || 126 || 34 || 571 || 0.4 || 0.5 || 10.6 || 11.5 || 22.1 || 5.7 || 1.5 || 26.0

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2009

|{{AFL WC}}

| 20 || 13 || 8 || 7 || 139 || 145 || 284 || 75 || 23 || 346 || 0.6 || 0.5 || 11.2 || 10.7 || 21.8 || 5.8 || 1.8 || 26.6

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2010

|{{AFL WC}}

| 20 || 22 || 10 || 9 || 178 || 194 || 372 || 91 || 37 || 502 || 0.5 || 0.4 || 8.1 || 8.8 || 16.9 || 4.1 || 1.7 || 22.8

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2011

|{{AFL WC}}

| 20 || 25 || 20 || 17 || 270 || 176 || 446 || 137 || 43 || 716 || 0.8 || 0.7|| 10.8 || 7.0 || 17.8 || 5.5 || 1.7 || 28.6

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2012

|{{AFL WC}}

| 20 || 24 || 28 || 14 || 238 || 147 || 385 || 144 || 39 || 628 || 1.2 || 0.6 || 9.9 || 6.1 || 16.0 || 6.0 || 1.6 || 26.2

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2013

|{{AFL WC}}

| 20 || 22 || 13 || 18 || 209 || 140 || 349 || 118 || 52 || 597 || 0.6 || 0.8 || 9.5 || 6.4 || 15.9 || 5.4 || 2.4 || 27.1

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2014

|{{AFL WC}}

| 20 || 17 || 8 || 6 || 142 || 103 || 245 || 80 || 39 || 405 || 0.5 || 0.4 || 8.4 || 6.1 || 14.4 || 4.7 || 2.3 || 23.8

|- class="sortbottom"

! colspan=3| Career

! 290

! 169

! 118

! 2588

! 2015

! 4603

! 1541

! 430

! 6628

! 0.6

! 0.4

! 8.9

! 7.0

! 15.9

! 5.3

! 1.5

! 22.9

|}

Cox married Kerry Lavell at a ceremony at Leeuwin Estate in Margaret River in December 2011, having dated her for three years previously.[http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/entertainment/a/-/access-all-areas/12465663/cox-tees-off-before-sw-nuptials/ Cox tees off before SW nuptials] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130105123624/http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/entertainment/a/-/access-all-areas/12465663/cox-tees-off-before-sw-nuptials/ |date=5 January 2013 }} – The West Australian online. Published 28 December 2011. Retrieved 14 July 2012. Outside of football, Cox co-owns a seafood restaurant, Beluga, in Claremont, with Andrew Embley, which opened in April 2011.Williams, Gail (2010). [http://www.perthnow.com.au/lifestyle/west-coast-veteran-embley-set-to-open-his-own-restaurant/story-e6frg3gc-1225914192799 West Coast veteran Embley set to open his own restaurant] – The Sunday Times. Published 4 September 2010. Retrieved 14 July 2012.Williams, Gail (2011). [http://www.perthnow.com.au/lifestyle/catch-of-the-day/story-e6frg3gc-1226048506164 Catch of the day] – The Sunday Times. Published 2 May 2011. Retrieved 14 July 2012.

In December 2012, Cox and his wife Kerry's first child was born.{{cite news| url = http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/15701036/stork-delivers-for-eagles-big-man/| title = Stork delivers for Eagles big man| date = 23 December 2012| first = Ross| last = Lewis| work = The West Australian| access-date = 23 December 2012| archive-date = 26 December 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121226094557/http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/15701036/stork-delivers-for-eagles-big-man/| url-status = dead}}

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• {{AFL Tables}}

• {{AustralianFootball}}
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{{s-start}}

{{S-sport}}

{{Succession box

| | before = John Longmire

| after= Incumbent

| title = Coach of the Sydney Swans
2025–current

}}

{{s-end}}

{{Sydney player squad}}

{{AFL coaches}}

{{2006 West Coast Eagles premiership players}}

{{Simpson Medal winners}}

{{John Worsfold Medal winners}}

{{Ross Glendinning Medal}}

{{Sydney Swans coaches}}

{{2005 All-Australian team}}

{{2006 All-Australian team}}

{{2007 All-Australian team}}

{{2008 All-Australian team}}

{{2011 All-Australian team}}

{{2012 All-Australian team}}

{{2008 Dream Team players}}

{{2000 AFL rookie draft}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cox, Dean}}

Category:1981 births

Category:All-Australians (AFL)

Category:Australian rules footballers from Western Australia

Category:East Perth Football Club players

Category:Living people

Category:People from Dampier, Western Australia

Category:John Worsfold Medal winners

Category:West Coast Eagles players

Category:West Coast Eagles premiership players

Category:Australian people of Polish descent

Category:West Australian Football Hall of Fame inductees

Category:Australian Football Hall of Fame inductees

Category:VFL/AFL premiership players

Category:Sydney Swans coaches