Mason Cox has been harshly criticised this year for his form, struggling to take marks and kick goals when it has mattered.

His captain Scott Pendlebury believes the American’s breakout performance in last year’s Preliminary Final against the Tigers has unfairly inflated expectations for a player still learning the game.

“His measuring stick got moved a hell of a lot really quickly because of the Richmond final last year,” Pendlebury told SEN’s Crunch Time.

“All year with Cox, we’ve just wanted him to compete and bring the ball to the front.

“I still feel like he does that. Now everyone just wants him to mark every time he gets his hands on the ball, which is not realistic.”

Cox took a few contested marks in the second half for the Pies in Friday night’s loss to the Tigers and Pendlebury believes that when he’s on, the key forward makes life very easy for those around him.

“If you’re a small forward you’re going to know where it’s going to go,” he said.

“It comes in that drop zone every time. Our smalls have got to be better at working off him.

“I feel like he’s not far away from taking two or three really important contested marks.

“You can see the value of those with Tom Lynch. Every time we felt like we were getting close they got a one-on-one with him.

“He was able to just take a contested mark and that really kills your momentum.”

In Round 19 we are proud to launch Ronald McDonald House Charity Round on AFL Nation.

Across every game we will be raising money with all proceeds going to providing a home-away-from-home for seriously ill children and their families.

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