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McRae said Cox’s lack of form was not due to a lack of confidence.
“Having been involved in the VFL for a long time, they seem to think it’s [confidence] down there, and you just go and pick it up from the VFL,” McRae said.
“I don’t think it’s that. I think it’s just a matter of doing a lot of things that he normally does well. He’s a good mark of the ball when he’s at his best, so we want him to get back to marking the ball and attacking the contests.
“It’s only probably five, six weeks since we played a practice game. Mason played a game down in Morwell, and we saw what he’s good at, and I just remind him of that to get back to being that guy.”
Cox has also been a topical subject since he gained AFL approval to wear prescription sunglasses on field after having six different eye surgeries in the past three years.
But McRae doesn’t pay mind to his choice of eyewear and is choosing to focus on improving his footy.
“I just care about the player, and the person, and we want him to play good footy and then care about him as a person,” he said.
The other big man in the spotlight is Grundy, whose form has posed questions after Collingwood’s three consecutive losses.
Brodie Grundy is looking to expand his repertoire as the Pies’ No.1 ruckman.Credit:Getty Images
The two-time All-Australian and club best and fairest winner has averaged 17 disposals and 29.8 hitouts per game in his five games this season, his worst returns in those areas since 2016.
McRae said the Pies are “working hard” to get Grundy “settled” as they look to end their losing streak against Essendon at the MCG.
“We are working really hard with Brodie. Every day we’re here [at training]. You would’ve seen it after training, before training, like every player we want their best,” McRae said.
“He’s competing really well in the contest. It’s around the outsides of that where we’re really trying to get to work with Brodie and find out where he fits best.
“We are not quite there yet, but it’s a work in progress with Brodie.”
However, McRae said he wanted to focus on talking about his team’s form, and not about individuals.
“You walk into these four walls, and we just want to get better every minute we’re here.”