McLean finally reached his 100-game milestone after earning a call-up against Richmond for his second game of the year.
The 27-year-old wasted no time making the most of the opportunity, kicking four goals to help the Swans monster the Tigers by 114 points on Saturday.
McLean has been squeezed out of the side since the arrival of former Carlton spearhead Charlie Curnow, with Cox opting to go with fit-again Logan McDonald and fellow tall Joel Amartey.
He last featured in round nine when Curnow picked up an abdominal issue, and kicked three goals in Sydney's eight-point win over North Melbourne.
Injuries to small forwards Tom Papley (calf) and Malcolm Rosas Jnr (ankle) opened the door for McLean's return against Richmond.
The SCG clash was the first time Cox had gone with four talls in attack, with McLean holding no grudges.
"It's just a lot of honest conversations throughout the week with 'Coxy'," McLean said.
"He's been open with me and honest with me. It's probably one of the hardest decisions he's made.
"To have the four talls this week, to try that, I think it worked.
"It's hard when you're competing with Logan, Joel, Charlie. When you get an opportunity like today, you've just got to try to take it with both hands."
McLean hasn't been the only in-form Swans player unable to make Cox's senior side.
Pete Ladhams featured in his first AFL game of the year, with star ruck Brodie Grundy rested against the Tigers.
Sharing ruck responsibilities with McLean, Ladhams finished with 28 hitouts, 24 disposals and one goal.
Richmond opponents Oliver Hayes-Brown and Noah Balta combined for 16 hitouts, while McLean took six.
"We're sort of sometimes going to be in the same position, but I think this year we've just leaned on each other a lot," McLean said of his relationship with Ladhams.
"I've actually learnt a lot from him. It's just control what you can, try to have fun.
"I'm very happy for 'Ladsy'. He's really bringing it together. He's just such a humble and fun bloke. The way he plays is who he is as a person, he's exciting, he's fun."
McLean is out to fine tune his rucking craft to further cement his spot under Cox.
"I like playing forward, but sometimes you can go in the midfield and actually control your own possession and just crack in there and try to be another mid," McLean said.
"That physical side I actually really enjoy. It's something that I like to bring to my position and my difference up forward."
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