Former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has claimed Mason Cox's eyes have previously been the target of opposition players, with an innocent-seeming act at the weekend the latest example.
In a wild brawl during the Pies' two-point win over the Crows on Sunday, Cox had his protective eyewear forced off his head by Adelaide midfielder Ben Keays.
Cox lifted for Collingwood in the final term, kicking two crucial goals as the Magpies came back from a three-quarter time deficit to run out 12. 10. (82) to 11. 14. (80) winners at the MCG.
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However, tempers flared after Cox slotted his second goal, with the American big man bumping young Crow Josh Worrell.
That kick-started a melee as Keays came in from behind Cox and snatched his prescription glasses off his head.
Speaking on Nine's Eddie and Jimmy Podcast, McGuire claimed it wasn't the first time Cox's eyes had been "targeted" in a brawl.
"It goes back a fair while and I had to bite my lip at the time because his eyes have been targeted over the years," he said.
"There was one bloke in particular and his name is written down and won't be forgotten. I've seen it first-hand.
"Because he's American, he's the tall guy and all that sort of stuff, there seems to be a set of rules for him and then there are others."
McGuire said Cox was treated unfairly, asking for a duty of care to be shown.
"The thing with Cox is he doesn't deserve to get any less attention but he certainly doesn't need to get extra attention," he said.
"I thought it was really, really ordinary, the whole thing. That this was [treated like] a novelty, it's not, he's a professional football player who has an eye condition and is wearing glasses because of that.
"Back in the day, Tony Southcombe and Geoff Blethyn wore glasses. If [Cox] could wear contact lenses he would, but he needs the protection of his eyes. I just thought it was pretty ordinary to be perfectly honest that that happened and I think we have got to get past this whole thing with Mason Cox that he is just an auditee – he kicked two goals to win the game, [and] he's a serious footballer, he's come back from adversity.
"Don't go near people's eyes is what I'm saying."
McGuire also called out Fox Footy commentators Garry Lyon and Nathan Buckley for making light of the attack during the coverage.
"I'm not going to have a crack at Garry and even Nathan, to a degree there, but every time Garry Lyon calls Coxy getting whacked, everyone is laughing like it's a comedy act," he said.
"This is a guy who is one poke in the eye away from being blind. He's had three major surgeries on his eye.
"He lay on his back in a dead black room for basically a month to try and get his eyesight back and we're laughing because some narc jumps up, who has to almost do his PB in the high jump, to rip his glasses off."
Cox has worn the protective glasses since the start of last season following six different surgeries on his eyes during his career.
The 32-year-old was left legally blind for a short period following back-to-back surgeries in 2019.
Keyes accepted a $1000 fine from the match review committee on Tuesday after he was charged with misconduct.
"We have the other week where [Rhyan] Mansell gets rubbed out for three weeks in what was a genuine football contest, running straight at the ball and protecting himself, and Keyes will get a fine because somebody equated it to ripping off a headband," McGuire said.
"Hardly [fair], if you were walking down the street and somebody has got glasses on and you jump up, grab their glasses and throw them.
"I know everyone is equal when they walk onto the ground but show a little bit of sportsmanship.
"What would have happened if he had jumped up and poked him in the eye and he went blind? His career is over and he's blind for life. How do you reckon that would go down? We would be stringing this guy up, not laughing."
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