The AFL has begun day two of its search for the next Mason Cox by putting 18 US college basketball and football players through their paces on a sports field in Los Angeles.

Most of the players, who stand at least 198cm tall, had their first kick of a Sherrin football outside during Tuesday’s workout led by AFL talent managers Kevin Sheehan and Michael Ablett.

The hopefuls looked like fish out of water, with balls sprayed left and right, but they were all aware of and drew inspiration from Collingwood’s new US sensation Cox who was in the same position just a few years ago.

“It’s different, but a good experience,” Jamal Hunt, a 200cm tall power forward from Alabama’s Jacksonville State University, told AAP.

“When I first received the invite I was hesitant and thought it was for rugby, but I like the contact in the sport.”

The three-day combine will be completed on Wednesday.

The AFL delegation, including representatives from Richmond and North Melbourne, will select three players to go to Australia in July.