THERE'S a bit of everything as AFL.com.au's 50 biggest stories of the football year countdown enters the top 10. The American Pie, a four-time premiership Hawk and a mega-deal all feature as the list continues with stories 10-6, before concluding on Friday.

TOP 50 STORIES Check out 50-41

TOP 50 STORIES Check out 40-31

TOP 50 STORIES Check out 30-21

TOP 50 STORIES Check out 20-11



10. American Coxy's Big Break

It doesn't get much bigger than an MCG preliminary final between Richmond and Collingwood. The Tigers were reigning premiers and warm favourites to go back-to-back, but that script was quickly tossed out. The Pies kicked five goals to one in the first quarter to assume control, although there was still time for a comeback. Enter Mason Cox, the American Pie whose season contributions had been more solid than outstanding. He also hadn't registered a scoring shot in the previous two finals. That all changed on this memorable September night, when Cox – who hadn't heard of the sport until four years ago – kicked three goals in a nine-minute, second-term burst to put Richmond to the sword. He embarrassed five-time All Australian Alex Rance, took a hanger over Brownlow medallist Trent Cotchin and wagged his finger and stared his opponents down. It was sporting theatre at its finest, imported from the United States School of Swagger. The Collingwood lead was 42 points by the time he was done. The Magpie crowd, which included Cox's parents, embraced the 211cm giant's heroics, euphorically chanting "U-S-A, U-S-A" as American flags were held aloft. Cox finished with 11 marks – an AFL season-high eight contested – and even he was in disbelief. "It's quite awesome to have my family experience it with me. Obviously, this whole thing is a bit crazy for the whole five of us." Not even the US media could ignore the story.

WATCH Cox's heroics puts Tigers to the sword

Mason Cox with the speccie and the strut!#AFLFinals pic.twitter.com/7O3LTeNJIl — AFL (@AFL) September 21, 2018

9. Nic Nat suffers double knee blow

Spring-heeled West Coast ruckman Nic Naitanui's second ACL rupture, this time in his right knee, in round 17 instantly became a big news item and went in many directions after the initial devastation. Coach Adam Simpson's emotional post-match interview spoke volumes for how popular and highly valued 'Nic Nat' is at the Eagles. That was left in no doubt when West Coast's integrity services manager Peter Staples physically confronted two cameramen at Perth Airport as Naitanui and the club crew tried to slip out a side door. Simpson defended Staples' actions, but chief executive Trevor Nisbett apologised "unreservedly" four days later and admitted it was "poorly handled". Naitanui's situation also ramped up the focus on fellow big man Scott Lycett's out-of-contract status. Lycett and Nathan Vardy formed a good combination in Nic Nat's absence, but the former chose to join Port Adelaide after playing in the premiership. That resulted in the Eagles hunting for ruck reinforcements, with Jordan Roughead and Tom Hickey among those in the mix. They settled on Hickey before signing former Sun Keegan Brooksby under new rookie rules. As for Naitanui, his recovery is tracking well and he is targeting a round 15 return next year. It was a brutal season for ACLs in football, with Tyson Goldsack, Jake Lever, Tom Liberatore, Jon Patton, Lynden Dunn, Matt Scharenberg, Brianna Davey and Mel Hickey all going down.

Nic Naitanui has suffered a knee injury and will not return today.#AFLPiesEagles pic.twitter.com/A0Z30A2KEy — AFL (@AFL) July 15, 2018

8. Mega-deal at centre of hectic Trade Period

You know it's big when it's called a mega-deal, even if it didn't end up being all in one hit. Seven clubs (Fremantle, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Brisbane, GWS Giants, Hawthorn and Port Adelaide) and nine players (Jesse Hogan, Rory Lobb, Steven May, Kade Kolodjashnij, Jack Hombsch, Lachie Neale, Chad Wingard, Ryan Burton and Sam Mayes) were involved. You could even argue eight teams if you include Collingwood's luring of Dayne Beams, given the Lions wouldn't have relinquished him without securing Neale. The deal was masterminded by TLA player agent Tom Petroro, whose company counts Lobb, Wingard, Mayes, Neale, Hogan and Hombsch as clients. Pick No.6 was a huge part of getting it done and swapped hands six times, starting with Fremantle and ending with the Suns, who drafted Ben King. It was a titanic NAB AFL Trade Period, with fellow Giants stars and housemates Dylan Shiel (Essendon) and Tom Scully (Hawthorn) also changing clubs. GWS offloaded Lobb, Shiel and Scully to relieve major salary cap pressure. Shiel's decision to join the Bombers wasn't without drama after a series of clubs courted him, then the trade itself went down to the wire and threatened to break down. Scully's move was a big talking point, given he had three years left on his contract, while concerns over his damaged right ankle sent his trade value plummeting.

INSIDE STORY Why Scully became a Hawk steal

After a long chase, Jesse Hogan is finally a Fremantle player. Picture: AFL Photos





7. Public Lynch-ing ends at Punt Rd

Gold Coast co-captain and coveted free agent Tom Lynch going home to Victoria was the AFL's worst-kept secret and was confirmed in August. Lynch's decision came early because of his season-ending knee injury and saw the Suns strip him of the co-captaincy and angry teammates reportedly give him what for. He admitted later he could have done things differently. The big question remained where the talented forward was going – Richmond, Collingwood or Hawthorn – and figuring out the answer proved a media blood sport. Some will tell you the Tigers were confident as far back as late 2017, but the Pies and Hawks never stopped trying. Collingwood, in particular, became front and centre in the story. Coach Nathan Buckley admitted on Channel Nine that he had met with Lynch as part of the club's pitch, which caused a mini-storm of its own. Shortly after, list boss Ned Guy visited Lynch's family and his management at Blairgowrie. The problem? Channel Nine's reporters got wind of the meeting and were waiting outside, with Guy organising for his car to be moved to a side street before leaping a fence to escape questions. Ultimately none of it mattered: Lynch chose Richmond and was soon unveiled in the yellow and black.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick chats with marquee recruit Tom Lynch. Picture: AFL Photos





6. Cyril calls time on AFL career

The rumblings started long before the announcement, but Hawthorn hero Cyril Rioli's retirement in July still hit the football community like a ton of bricks. The end came quickly, from the time his father, Cyril jnr, suffered a near-fatal heart attack in Grand Final week last year. His family members Maurice Rioli snr, Sebastian Rioli and Emmanuel 'Manny' Rioli died the same way. The Hawks granted Rioli indefinite leave to be by his father's side in Alice Springs and he also spent time in Adelaide, Darwin and with his wife's family in North Queensland. There were fears 'Junior Boy' wouldn't return, but he was back training at Waverley Park in mid-January. Rioli featured in the first four games of the year before another knee injury sidelined him. He never played again, with his round 13 comeback put off when he suddenly went back to Darwin, and Rioli's retirement followed the next month. "Football has been my life, but it's always been difficult being away from home," he said. There are few more celebrated, skilled or loved AFL players in the modern era than Rioli. His achievements include playing in four premierships, winning the 2015 Norm Smith Medal and being a triple All Australian. It was no shock rivals tried to lure him – or that Alastair Clarkson sent him a cheeky text wondering if he wanted to come out of retirement for finals.

WATCH The best 10 moments of Cyril's career

Retired Hawk Cyril Rioli does a lap of the MCG on Grand Final day. Picture: AFL Photos





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TOP 50 STORIES Check out 50-41

TOP 50 STORIES Check out 40-31

TOP 50 STORIES Check out 30-21

TOP 50 STORIES Check out 20-11

