YOUNG Gold Coast defender Caleb Graham said he didn't mind the bit of "chat" coming from towering American Mason Cox in Collingwood's win over the Suns on Monday night.

Cox was an influential second-half player in the Magpies' 22-point victory, kicking two goals and hauling in seven marks.

His first goal came on the stroke of three quarter-time and the 211cm forward was keen to tell Graham all about it.

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After kicking truly from a tight angle, Cox playfully went up to Graham, pointed to the posts and seemed to ask if the kick was worth six points.

Speaking to AFL.com.au on Wednesday, Graham said he enjoyed both the banter and the competition with Cox.

"We're both pretty competitive," Graham said.

"It was a bit of a laugh, we'll leave it on the field.

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"I don't mind it, I kind of like it, it gets a bit more feeling into it and when there's more feeling you want to make sure you win your contest.

"I really, really enjoy that."

Cox had the last laugh in the final quarter when he out-marked Graham and audaciously played on, taking a bounce and drilling the goal on the run from 35 metres.

It's all part of Graham's education, a Gold Coast Academy player that had his 20th birthday last Saturday and has played just nine senior games.

He said manning Cox for most of the night was a challenge unlike any other, but one he learnt plenty from.

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"We came into the week trying to figure out when to body him and when to be physical with him.

"I can run and jump, I've got longish arms and I can compete in the air a little bit, but it was just figuring out the balance of when to engage with him.

"I just take that as a learning. Hopefully in the near future I get to play on him again."

In the more immediate future though, Graham said Sunday's final round against Hawthorn in Adelaide had plenty riding on it despite neither team being able to play finals.

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"We've been in a lot more games than we've been out of this season and I think it's a great opportunity to finish the year off well.

"They've got a lot to play for and so do we."