“We have welfare people, we have sports and clinical psychologists – psychologists that actually look after the person before the player. That has to happen. The support we give, the AFL give, is available to anyone – partners, families, the actual person. There’s a bit there, but still a lot of work to do.”
Meanwhile, Cox confirmed that Swans captain Callum Mills will play in Saturday’s clash with Melbourne at the MCG should he come through their main training session this week unscathed.
Mills dominated in a half of VFL football for the Swans’ reserves on Friday night in the curtain-raiser to their 16-point AFL victory over Carlton at the SCG, collecting 18 disposals, six marks, three tackles, two clearances and a goal.
“He played extremely well in the restricted minutes that he had on the weekend. There was always a plan last week. He got through yesterday. He gets through tomorrow, he lines up for us, which is great,” Cox said.
“I think we’ve also got to understand Callum hasn’t played a lot of AFL footy the last two years. So the expectation is for him to come and contribute to the football team, not to be the best player on the ground.
“We’ve got to make sure he knows his role. He’ll play that really well. And he’ll build as the weeks progress. Let’s get through one more [session] and it’ll be good to have our captain back.”
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With the Swans to make at least three forced changes, due to Aaron Francis’ concussion and suspensions to Justin McInerney and Joel Amartey, Cox also confirmed that Taylor Adams and Hayden McLean, who was dropped for the Carlton game in a bid to send a “message” to the playing group, were also in the selection mix – the latter out of necessity.
“It’s about understanding that we’ve got to play a certain way, and what’s required individually and collectively – that you need to do that,” Cox said of McLean. “I’ve had conversations with him yesterday. I’ll do it again today. And we’ll see how training goes tomorrow.”
