Collingwood’s Mason Cox has hit back at Melbourne’s Steven May after his comments at the Demons' best and fairest in October.
Speaking at the club’s awards night, May said the Demons should have smoked the Magpies in the Qualifying Final and that Simon Goodwin’s men were better than the premiers.
Naturally, these comments received backblash from AFL fans as the Demons were bundled out of finals in straight sets for the second year running.
Given the Magpies were the best team all year and would go on to beat Brisbane in the Grand Final, Cox found May’s comments rather amusing.
“I find it hilarious,” Cox told Fox Footy.
“I don’t know how many drinks he had at that little celebration of not making it to the grand final but they lost to Carlton after losing to us, so I don’t know exactly where he’s getting at there.
“Melbourne’s had its media time over the last couple of months and you’ve definitely seen a few things over the time but they’re still going to be one of the best teams in the league next year and one you’ve always got to respect.
“They’ve always put up a big fight with us as you saw in the Queens Birthday game last year and they came close to beating us in that quarter final, they’re a good team and you’ve got respect them.
“Those type of comments are water off a ducks back really, people are always going to sit there and say they think they can beat the best and that’s just part of the experience I think.
“When it comes down to it, like Jordy (De Goey) said, we’re the ones with the medal on our neck so that’s the proof in the pudding.
“It’s interesting to hear those type of comments and I’m sure whatever round we play them next year there’s going to be a bit of action in the competition of the fight.”
Cox, who is no stranger to a bit of “trash talk” during a game, says May should expect to receive a reply from the big forward should they face each other in 2024.
“I love the trash talk, I’m all for it, you best believe if I go in that forward line and Steven May lines up next to me, there’ll be a few comments made,” he laughed.