View source for Dean Cox

{{short description|Australian rules footballer, born 1981}}
{{About|the Australian rules footballer|the English association footballer|Dean Cox (English footballer)}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Dean Cox
| image = Dean Cox 2018.1.jpg
| caption = Cox with Sydney in August 2018
| fullname = Dean Michael Cox
| nickname = Coxy<ref>[http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7155/newsid/135685/default.aspx Coxy Faces tough opponent] Official AFL Website of the West Coast Eagles Football Club. Published 14 May 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2012.</ref>
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1981|08|01}}
| birth_place = 
| death_date = 
| death_place = 
| originalteam = Dampier Sharks
| draftpick = 28th overall, [[1999 AFL Draft|2000 Rookie Draft]]
| height = 204 cm
| weight = 107 kg
| position = [[Ruckman (Australian rules football position)|Ruckman]]
| years1 = 2001–2014
| club1 = {{AFL WC}}
| games_goals1 = 290 (169)
| sooyears1 = 2008
| sooteam1 = [[Dream Team (Australian rules football)|Dream Team]]
| soogames_goals1 = 1 (0)
| coachyears1 = 2025–
| coachclub1 = {{AFL Syd}}
| coachgames_wins1 = 11 (4–7–0)
| statsend = the 2014 season
| coachstatsend = round 5, 2025 season
| careerhighlights = 
* {{WAFL|EP}} Premiership side: 2000
* [[Simpson Medal]]: 2000
*6x [[All-Australian team]]: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012
* {{AFL WC}} Premiership side: [[2006 AFL Grand Final|2006]]
* [[Ross Glendinning Medal]]: 2011
* {{AFL WC}} Best Clubman Award: 2006
* {{AFL WC}} [[John Worsfold Medal|Best and Fairest]]: 2008
* [[Australian Football Hall of Fame]] inductee (2020)
}}

'''Dean Michael Cox''' (born 1 August 1981) is a retired [[Australian rules football]]er and the current senior coach of the [[Sydney Swans]] in the [[Australian Football League]] (AFL). Cox played a 290-game career with the [[West Coast Eagles]]. Originally from [[Dampier, Western Australia|Dampier]], [[Western Australia]], he debuted with {{WAFL|EP}} in the [[West Australian Football League]] (WAFL) in 2000. Cox was recruited to West Coast with the 28th pick in the [[1999 AFL Draft|2000 Rookie Draft]] and went on to win the Simpson medal as the best player in the 2000 WAFL grand final before being upgraded to the senior West Coast list. He made his AFL debut during the [[2001 AFL season|2001 season]], and played in West Coast's 2006 premiership side. A [[Ruckman (Australian rules football)|ruckman]], Cox was named in the [[All-Australian team]] six times, including four seasons consecutively from 2005 to 2008, and was considered the outstanding player in his position throughout much of his career. He won [[John Worsfold|West Coast's best and fairest award]] in 2008, and finished in the top three on four other occasions. Cox retired at the end of the [[2014 AFL season|2014 season]], finishing his career with 290 games, a club record, and 169 goals. Cox joined the Swans as an assistant coach in 2017, and succceeded [[John Longmire]] as senior men's coach in November 2024.

==Early career==
Cox was a naturally gifted sportsman who excelled at sports whilst growing up in [[Dampier, Western Australia|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 Football Club|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.

==AFL playing career==

===West Coast Eagles===

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.

===2005 season===
He came of age during the [[AFL season 2005|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 [[2005 AFL finals series|finals series]], living up to his high standards. Two incidents stand out in particular for Cox – one where in the Qualifying Final against [[Sydney Swans|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 [[2005 AFL Grand Final|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.

===2006 season===

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 (Australian rules football position)|ruckman]] [[Stephen Doyle (footballer)|Stephen Doyle]] and [[Darren Jolly]]. Cox played 21 games in 2006, taking 141 marks and kicking 14 goals.

===2007–2014===

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.<ref>[http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players.html#t6 Career Totals and Averages: Hit Outs] – AFL Tables. Retrieved 31 August 2014.</ref>

==Playing style==
{{BLP unsourced section|date=November 2024}}
Cox was a very versatile [[Ruckman (Australian rules football position)|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 team]]s.

==AFL coaching career==

===Sydney Swans===
Cox joined the [[Sydney Swans]] as an assistant coach under senior [[John Longmire]] at the end of the 2017 season.<ref>{{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}}</ref> On 26 November 2024, two months after the club suffered a 60-point loss to {{AFL BL}} in the [[2024 AFL Grand Final|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.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>

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

{{AFL player statistics legend/ruckman}}
{{AFL player statistics start/ruckman}}
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | [[2001 AFL season|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 season|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 season|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 season|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 season|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 season|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 season|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 season|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 season|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 season|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 season|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 season|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 season|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 season|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
|}

==Personal life==
Cox married Kerry Lavell at a ceremony at [[Leeuwin Estate]] in [[Margaret River, Western Australia|Margaret River]] in December 2011, having dated her for three years previously.<ref>[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.</ref> Outside of football, Cox co-owns a seafood restaurant, ''Beluga'', in [[Claremont, Western Australia|Claremont]], with [[Andrew Embley]], which opened in April 2011.<ref>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] – ''[[Sunday Times (Western Australia)|The Sunday Times]]''. Published 4 September 2010. Retrieved 14 July 2012.</ref><ref>Williams, Gail (2011). [http://www.perthnow.com.au/lifestyle/catch-of-the-day/story-e6frg3gc-1226048506164 Catch of the day] – ''[[Sunday Times (Western Australia)|The Sunday Times]]''. Published 2 May 2011. Retrieved 14 July 2012.</ref>

In December 2012, Cox and his wife Kerry's first child was born.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
<!-- *{{Wceplayer|ref=14561}} -->
* {{AFL Tables}}
<!-- * {{AFL Tables coach}} -->
* {{AustralianFootball}}
* {{WAFL FootyFacts}}

{{s-start}}
{{S-sport}}
{{Succession box
| | before = [[John Longmire]]
| after= ''Incumbent''
| title  = Coach of the [[Sydney Swans]] <br> 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]]