It’s probably the most annoying line in football: If he played in Melbourne, he’d be a star.

Could that be the case for Brennan Cox?

As Victorian footy experts go into meltdown over the future prospects of Carlton star Charlie Curnow – and with good reason – it’s worth having a look at Cox’s career trajectory as well.

The 19-year-old key position player, taken with pick 41 in the 2016 draft, is quietly starting to announce himself as a potential long-term solution to Fremantle’s tall forward issue.

And his numbers, in comparison to Curnow’s, stack up pretty well.

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In his second year and with 17 games under his belt, Cox averages more goals, disposals, scoring shots, contested possessions, marks, contested marks, marks inside 50m and one-percenters than Curnow did at the same point in his career.

Both players were in sides that had 5-12 win-loss records during those periods.

Cox was awarded a Rising Star nomination for a strong showing against Adelaide in round 12 and currently sits on the eighth line of betting to win the prestigious award.

Fremantle coach Ross Lyon was full of praise for the “powerful athlete” immediately after his four-goal haul in the win over the Crows.

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“There have been good signs, but he put it together for longer today,” Lyon said in his post-match assessment.

“(Assistant coach) Brent Guerra has worked really hard with him individually and that hard work and increased intensity is starting to pay off.”

Pressed further on what sort of work had gone into Cox, Lyon added: “Hard work. In the gym. Repeat effort, repeat effort with someone on him.

“Shaving rough edges all of the time, so his food choices are getting better. All of that goes into the mix.

“His intensity. His ability to concentrate for longer periods.

“He is a powerful athlete. He is just going to get bigger and stronger and quicker. You saw a bit of that today.”

None of this is to say Cox is or will be a better player than Curnow.

But there have been positive signs in the young South Australian’s performances.

How Cox develops over the latter stages of this season and over summer will be an intriguing watch for Fremantle fans hopeful he can be the man to fill the Matthew Pavlich-sized hole in attack.

AVERAGES OVER FIRST 17 GAMES

CHARLIE CURNOW v BRENNAN COX

Team win-loss records: 5-12 – 5-12

Goals: 0.64 – 0.76

Goal Assists: 0.71 – 0.59

Scoring Shots: 1.06 – 1.82

Disposals: 11.35 – 11.88

Contested Possessions: 4.77 – 4.88

Marks: 4.06 – 5.12

Contested Marks: 1.06 – 1.76

Marks Inside 50m: 0.65 – 1.32

One-percenters: 1.06 – 1.94

Tackles: 2.41 – 1.59