TWO OF the brightest international rookie prospects on AFL clubs' radars say Mason Cox's stunning success at Collingwood has inspired them to follow in the big American's footsteps.

Cox has been a revelation this season, booting 15 goals in 10 games, including his unforgettable first major on debut in front of more than 85,000 spectators at the MCG on Anzac Day.

The impressive Pie is the tallest AFL player in history, but that could all change if ruck prospect Stanislas Heili, a basketballer from Lyon, is offered a category B rookie contract.

The beanpole Frenchman, who stands a centimetre short of seven feet at 212.3cm (compared to Cox's 211.4cm), is the tallest prospect ever measured at a draft combine in Australia or overseas.

Heili and fellow 22-year-old Brandon Nazione, from Michigan in the USA, are in Melbourne coming to grips with Australian Rules, and met with Cox on Wednesday.

"We had lunch with him and he explained to us what happened to him, what he learned, how he had to adjust to the new rules," Heili told AFL.com.au.

"It was pretty interesting to see someone else who did what we want to do and succeeded.

"It's pretty motivating."

Nazione, who stands 198cm tall, watched footage of Cox's debut and couldn't help but notice the big Magpie meeting US Vice-President Joe Biden last weekend at the Carlton-West Coast match.

"He's an ambassador out here for the US – that's awesome," Nazione said.

"He's a really cool guy, really down to earth and he just told me a few things about how the process goes, but he's definitely done some great things out here thus far.

"I'm sure he'll have continued success. I could definitely see myself following in his footsteps."

Mason Cox (left) watches on with Joe Biden (middle). Picture: AFL Media

Nazione's sporting background includes American Football, soccer, baseball and college basketball, and the spring-heeled prospect turned heads with his leap at April's combine.

He recorded the second-highest running vertical leap (90cm) and tied for first in the agility test out of 18 participants.

"I do think that a lot of the jumping and movements are transferrable," he said.

"I watched AFL Rules (before the combine) explaining the game and I saw a bunch of different highlights of people being crunched and different types of fun stuff.

"(The physicality) is definitely one of the best parts, I think that it being such a free game and so chaotic at times, I think that's what I enjoy the most about it."

Heili, who studied in the US before recently returning to France, had never heard of the sport until a message popped up on Facebook.

"I don't know exactly how they found me. They just sent me a message on Facebook saying 'Hey, do you want to go to Los Angeles for the combine to try a new sport?' and with some links for videos," he said.


"I just looked at it and it was pretty fun.

"It was really random."

Heili and Nazione attended last Sunday's clash between St Kilda and Melbourne at Etihad Stadium and were instantly impressed by what they saw.

"The first impressions going into the stadium was a really big thing. It was already starting so it was all full and we saw the crowd singing 'Oh, when the Saints'," Heili said.


"After watching the game and seeing the guys running covering the ground, it was 'OK, those guys are real athletes, they can run forever'."

The international duo watched Melbourne star Max Gawn and in-form Saints big man Tom Hickey compete and, unexpectedly, met the pair just days later at Sandringham under-18s training.

"They're big dudes. They showed us some ruckwork and the out-of-bounds throws," Nazione said.

"They were giving us tips and telling us how to take advantage of our size and our particular skill sets and abilities.

"It was really nice and helpful from them."

Heili and Nazione will attend three more AFL matches in Melbourne this weekend and then trial with at least three or four clubs next Wednesday.

They will return home at the end of next week, with the potential to be offered a category B rookie spot as clubs become increasingly willing to test international waters.

"I can definitely see myself playing," Nazione said. 

"It's a really fun game, I really enjoy it, it's kind of one of my favourite sports now."