The Western Bulldogs have been linked to Collingwood tall Mason Cox despite the American being contracted for 2021.
Cox reportedly triggered a contract extension to remain at the Holden Centre for the next 12 months after reaching a minimum amount of games since joining the Magpies.
Cox played just 11 games in 2020 and hit a sporadic run of form to end his campaign, with Collingwood fans changing their tune on the forward/ruck utility.
Speaking on the situation surrounding Geelong forward Esava Ratugolea, former Collingwood recruiter Matt Rendell revealed the Bulldogs are "down the track" with Cox.
“He’d (Ratugolea) be looking there and going, I’m going to get squeezed out of this forward line, even though Hawkins has probably (only) got a couple of years left,” Rendell said on AFL Trade Radio.
“He’s ready to play somewhere. You get Jeremy Cameron in, I don’t know how he holds his spot if they continue to play Rhys Stanley and Mark Blicavs in the ruck, which I think they will because it gives them options.
“He’s one who should be thinking I’ve got to go somewhere else. The Bulldogs should be having at a crack at him (Ratugolea) if he’s thinking about it, but I have heard they might be down the track a little bit with Mason Cox.
“He can help out (Tim) English in the ruck and play deep forward.”
Rendell backed Cox's ruck abilities given his first-hand knowledge at training.
“I think that’s a good move for the Bulldogs, I rate Coxy a lot higher than lots of people,” Rendell said.
“He’s actually a very good ruckman, I worked for a couple of years with him and Lachie Keeffe and Jarrod Witts and (Brodie) Grundy ... he’s a very good ruckman and every time he went in the centre bounce, and they actually did really well.
“So if that was the case, I’d (also) be thinking about playing him deep forward where Collingwood should really be having him. He causes chaos down there.”
