Melbourne forward Brody Mihocek underwent surgery overnight after sustaining a fractured neck during Monday’s King’s Birthday match against his former team, Collingwood. The Demons confirmed the operation on Tuesday, adding that Mihocek has since been out of his hospital bed and is walking.
“You never want to see an incident in our game, like what we saw with Brody on Monday,” said the Demons’ general manager of football, Alan Richardson. “Brody is in the very best of care and was able to undergo surgery last night, which, thankfully, went as planned. Our primary focus right now is supporting Brody, his partner Polly and their family through his recovery, while ensuring his return to full health.”
Mihocek, 33, temporarily lost feeling in some of his limbs after being knocked out when the top of his head was accidentally driven into the ground in a tackle by former teammate, Billy Frampton.
The Collingwood defender’s actions will be scrutinised by match review officer Michael Christian on Tuesday. If Frampton is found to have breached his duty of care, he would likely face a three-game suspension on a severe impact charge. Christian will also have to consider whether Mihocek ducked his head to evade the Frampton tackle before slipping.
The Melbourne forward’s head then appeared to strike Frampton’s knee before the pair went to ground in the tackle. Captain Max Gawn discussed Mihocek’s condition on morning radio before the Demons’ announcement.
“There was slightly more positive news that he had feeling in all of his limbs, which is nice, but they still weren’t confident enough to tell us the exact reasoning for why he’s still in hospital,” Gawn said on Triple M’s Mick in the Morning. “Watching a guy take six or seven minutes to get on a stretcher, it certainly does worry you.”
A hush fell over the MCG crowd of 88,019 people as the game was held up for eight minutes while Melbourne’s medics attended Mihocek during the second quarter. He was carefully loaded onto a motorised stretcher to be taken from the ground before being transported to The Alfred hospital. Polly accompanied him.
Leading football medic Dr Peter Larkins praised the on-field response to Mihocek’s injury. “The manner in which Brody Mihocek was transported from MCG after his head/neck injury highlights the specialised care and training given to AFL medical staff – well done to both clubs,” Larkins posted on X.
It was Mihocek’s first game against his former side. Players from both teams went over to wish the big forward well before he was taken from the ground. He was able to look up at his close friend and premiership teammate Jack Crisp and smile before giving him a thumbs-up.
He later asked to listen to the rest of the classic King’s Birthday clash on radio while sitting up in his hospital bed.
Melbourne coach Steven King said the Demons’ playing group would give Mihocek some time and space before considering visiting him in hospital. “It didn’t look great and when you see a player go down, and when its issues around the head, neck, that’s serious,” King said after Melbourne’s eight-point victory.
Any suspension to Frampton would leave the Magpies severely depleted in defence. Captain Darcy Moore is still battling a hamstring issue, while Brayden Maynard twice dislocated his shoulder against Melbourne and faces several weeks on the sidelines.
Christian will also examine the circumstances that led to Maynard hurting his shoulder the second time as he appeared to trip over the outstretched leg of dynamic Melbourne midfielder Kysaiah Pickett.
The Magpies have a bye next week, followed by home games at the MCG against Port Adelaide and Richmond.
