PHIL Cox normally watches Collingwood games in the middle of the night from his home in Dallas, Texas, pots of coffee on standby.

So it was a novelty for the father of hulking Magpie forward Mason to be at the MCG for Sunday's match against the Bombers.

Also a novelty is having a Texan live-tweet an AFL game.

However, after the Pies hooked Phil up with a media pass and handed him the keys to their Twitter account, it's something AFL.com.au can get behind.

Here's how Phil's call unfolded.

#philcoxtweets

The hashtag #philcoxtweets starts trending across Melbourne as Phil begins his play-by-play commentary.

Phil Cox, father of @masonsixtencox has flown all the way from Dallas, Texas to tweet the game for us today. He’ll be using #philcoxtweets all afternoon! #FOREVER pic.twitter.com/me7c8CHtPk — Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) July 8, 2018

Hi Thomas! The weather's great- rain earlier but dry and overcast now. It's such a huge stadium vs college or US pro football- a long way across the grounds! #philcoxtweets — Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) July 8, 2018

'Chewy on your boot'

After Essendon's opener displeases Phil, the Pies get the jump, kicking four goals to one in the first term.

But the Bombers surge back in the second quarter and hit the lead with three unanswered goals.

Phil quickly gets the hang of heckling.

Boo on the Bombers - kicked the first goal #philcoxtweets — Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) July 8, 2018

Great mark Mason! Nice to see a daytime game- no pots of coffee in the middle of the night for this one!! #philcoxtweets — Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) July 8, 2018

He's in the wrong game! Need Bucks to turn the Cowboys around!! #philcoxtweets — Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) July 8, 2018

This quarter is chockers for Pies scoring!! Let's go Pies!!! #philcoxtweets — Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) July 8, 2018

Chewy on your boot worked!! #philcoxtweets — Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) July 8, 2018

Mason Cox competes for a pack mark as father Phil calls the shots on Twitter. Picture: AFL Photos



'More sausage rolls'

It's goal for goal in the third quarter and the Bombers hold a one-point lead at the final change. Mason is goalless, with rookie Brody Mihocek among those keeping the Pies in it.

Phil urges the Pies to convert a wind advantage in the final term into more sausage rolls.

The advice works. With 13 minutes played, Mason takes a grab and converts to send the Pies 11 points clear.

"Sausage roll!!" Phil tweets, adding: "USA!! USA!!".

Should have gone for the torp Mason! #philcoxtweets — Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) July 8, 2018

Back on track scoring! More sausage rolls!! #philcoxtweets — Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) July 8, 2018

Strong mitts and great goal Brody! Pies back on top!! #philcoxtweets — Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) July 8, 2018

We have the wind this last quarter - make it count Pies!! #philcoxtweets — Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) July 8, 2018

Wind blew the post in the way! #philcoxtweets — Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) July 8, 2018

USA! USA! Mason Cox kicks a decisive fourth-term goal against the Dons. Pictures: AFL Photos



USA! USA!

Collingwood closes out a hard-fought 16-point win to retain second spot, with Mason contributing one goal.

Phil signs off with a 100 per cent win record when live-tweeting from the Magpie account.

With four big matches still to come during the family's Australian trip, Pie fans might just be hoping he returns.

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