After playing in the shadow of Michael Gardiner early in his career Cox, 27, has emerged as the premier ruckman in the AFL – a fact endorsed by his fourth consecutive All-Australian jumper in 2008.
But the former rookie-listed Eagle doesn’t think he's peaked just yet.
"I think players can always improve. I think I can," Cox said.
"There are still areas in your game that you constantly work on and the most exciting thing about our club now is that we've got a young midfield and hopefully we can establish a core four, five, six or seven group of players that will take this group and the midfield to some success again."
Cox follows on from Darren Glass (2007) and former teammates Chris Judd and Ben cousins, who shared the prestigious award between 2001 and 2006.
But the names before those three also struck a chord with Cox.
"To win a best and fairest at this football club, with the names that I saw on it previous to me, is probably one of the biggest individual honours I can achieve," he said.
"Being an Eagles supporter, I always idolised all of those players that have had their name engraved into that plaque.
"It's a very proud, humbling moment for myself, for my family and one that I'll treasure forever."
Cox (450 votes) was a clear winner ahead of Quinten Lynch (360) and Adam Selwood (315) averaging 22 disposals and 26 hitouts a game.
But the star ruckman's impressive numbers hide the fact that he was playing with a fractured foot for the majority of the season after colliding with teammate David Wirrpanda in round three.
"If I couldn't play I wouldn't have played," Cox said of the injury. "I just wanted to do my role for the football side that the match committee presented me with."
"We had a lot of help throughout the way. The medical staff, physios, the fitness staff and the match committee, to monitor training so I could play on the weekend and perform the best I possibly could is a credit to them."
"That's what we train and do a pre-season for. We get up early, we make sacrifices in our lives to play on Saturday or Sunday to represent the West Coast Eagles and they gave me that opportunity."
After a disappointing season for the side Cox said he would be resuming pre season training as early as possible with the youngest Eagles rather than taking full toll on his time off.
"I personally want to start with the first year players," he said. "I think as a senior player [I should] set a good example and I'm willing to sacrifice any part of my holidays to get this side to be a successful side again.
"If that means that I only have eight weeks holiday when I'm entitled to ten then that's what I'll do."
