They formed a bulldozing combination in West Coast colours and after a season together in red and white are thrilled with the two-man act they have brought back to life.

After joining forces for a number of years in the west, first as teammates and later as a player-coach duo, Sydney Swans ruckman Callum Sinclair and midfield coach Dean Cox returned to the same hymn sheet ahead of season 2018.

Cox arrived at the Swans ahead of one of Sinclair’s most significant campaigns in his six-year AFL career, with the pre-season retirement of Kurt Tippett and season-ending ACL injury of Sam Naismith leaving the big man with Sydney’s chief ruck duties.

Sinclair, who in 2017 played mainly as a key forward and pinch-hit in the ruck, said Cox had played a big hand in his career and 2018 season.

“Dean’s had a massive influence on my career,” Sinclair told SwansTV.

“We spent a fair bit of time together at West Coast as a teammate and coach and he’s played against a lot of the ruckmen that are still out there today.

“Having his knowledge and experience in my corner is really helpful.”

Cox is West Coast’s games record-holder, a six-time All-Australian and 2006 Premiership star.

Sinclair joined the 290-game great in Perth ahead of season 2013, linking with the Eagles as a rookie and calling Cox a teammate for two seasons and assistant coach for one.

Sinclair donned the red and white ahead of season 2016 and notched his 50^th Swans match on Cox’s watch, celebrating his half-century as Sydney met Geelong in Round 16, 2018.

The towering Swan played all 23 games this season and collected 90 per cent of Sydney hit-outs.

He recorded a total of 667 hit-outs at an average of 29 per game, with Dean Towers’ 25 hit-outs the second-highest amount.

Sinclair’s influence on the scoreboard remained strong, with the 200-centimetre giant booting 12 majors to top the competition’s go-to ruckmen in front of goal. 

Cox was rapt with Sinclair’s impact on the Swans’ 2018 campaign.

“I was proud of what Callum was able to do this year,” Cox told SwansTV.

“He was able to take the number one ruck role and he was rucking for up to 110 minutes per game by himself. I think as a footballer he learnt a lot.” 

Sinclair locked horns with a host of formidable ruckmen, including 2018 All-Australians Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy and the imposing Nic Naitanui, Aaron Sandilands and Sam Jacobs.

Cox, who strung together 14 seasons in the AFL and clashed with a number of today’s big men, said Sinclair tackled some mighty challenges.

“You’ve got some really important players for opposition sides, like Gawn, Grundy, Naitanui and the like,” Cox said.

“To be able to develop his game to restrict them in certain ways was very good.”