Collingwoood’s Mason Cox confronts Demons star Christian Petracca in heated exchange after AFL clash

Mason Cox has revealed that Melbourne Demons Christian Petracca may have been the instigator of a post-match clash between the pair following the Demons AFL win over Collingwood on Monday.

When the siren sounded on the  four-point win, the pair could be seen exchanging heated words as officials and Melbourne skipper Max Gawn tried to separate them.

Petracca had been below his best on the day and social media speculation suggested that Cox had been letting him know all about, despite being on the losing team.

Cox had a running battle with former teammate Brodie Grundy during the match won by the Melbourne Demons on Monday

Even though Petracca was below his mercurial best, he was still influential in the win that ended Collingwood’s run of eight straight victories

However the Texas product revealed in his podcast The Mason Cox Show that the Demons champion may have been the one who started the set-to.   

‘Words were shared,’ Cox said on Tuesday morning on his podcast, The Mason Cox Show.

‘I won’t go into it too much, we’ve had the conversation, Trac and I after this, and he apologised and shook my hand, apologies, heat of the moment and we move on.’

‘All good. Words were said, Max Gawn was sitting between us as the captain of Melbourne 

‘It was interesting, I didn’t really expect words to be shared at the end of the game but they were. It is what it is, I’m not really offended to be honest, he was just hyped up from the win as you do get. And we move on,’ Cox said.

Cox added that he approved of Gawn standing in as peacekeeper because the AFL rucks have unwritten code between them. 

‘You don’t go punching Max Gawn or anything because he is kind of my mate,’ he said.

Petracca has also spoken about the incident and played down any animosity between the pair.

‘It was fine. Just heat of the moment stuff. It was fine,’ he said in the Demons’ rooms post-game.

‘No, nothing [in any particular moment that sparked it].

‘All good. It’s all good. It’s fine. What happens on the field, stays on the field.

‘We’re fine. We’re fine.’

Petracca was all smiles in the sheds as the Demons belted out their victory song after solidifying their place in the AFL top eight

Collingwood coach Craig McRae lays down the law during the close tussle with the Melbourne Demons but the ‘Pies ultimately fell just short

Collingwood managed just nine goals and 17 scoring shots from 49 forward entries in a loss that ended their winning streak at eight matches.

‘There’s two parts to it; their pressure and handling those moments when they’re coming at us pretty fast, and not connecting,’ coach Craig McRae said.

‘We’ve been the best team inside-50 in the last four weeks in terms of connection. Today we were a bit off.’

McRae refused to use illness as an excuse for his side after star midfielder Josh Daicos was among a group of players under a cloud during the build-up.

The coach clarified late withdrawal Jack Ginnivan was managed and said Dan McStay was not considered for a return from injury after copping a knock to the finger he had operated on at training.

Key forward McStay and Jamie Elliott (shoulder) are in the frame to play against Adelaide after next round’s bye.

McRae also eased injury fears over captain Darcy Moore, who required treatment on an ankle complaint during the final quarter against Melbourne.

‘Early reports are it’s just a little sprain that’s swollen up a little bit,’ McRae said.

‘We’ve got 13 days before our next game, so I’m sure he’ll be right.’