Collingwood Defender Cleared by Tribunal After ‘Unfortunate Football Incident’
Collingwood defender Billy Frampton has been cleared to play by the AFL Tribunal, following a controversial tackle that left Melbourne forward Brody Mihocek with a fractured neck and requiring surgery. The tribunal’s decision, delivered on Wednesday night, deemed the tackle “not reasonably avoidable” and attributed Mihocek’s severe injury to an “accidental impact.”
The incident, which occurred during a match, initially saw Frampton handed a three-match ban by the Match Review Officer, Michael Christian. Christian graded the tackle as careless and high with severe impact. However, Frampton’s immediate concern for his premiership teammate, Mihocek, was a key factor in his defence.
“He said he needed help, [and] he couldn’t move, which was quite a distressing thing to hear,” Frampton recounted during the hearing, detailing his reaction to call for medical assistance. “He said that a few times straight away, which is why I reacted the way I did to call some people.”
The AFL, represented by counsel Nick Pane KC, argued that the tackle was inherently dangerous, with Mihocek in a vulnerable position and rotated into the ground with excessive force. Pane contended that once the tackle began, Frampton should have released his arms, ceasing to contribute to the impact, especially given his awareness of Mihocek’s head position and body angle.
However, the tribunal ultimately found that the majority of the force originated from Mihocek himself. Tribunal chair Jeff Gleeson KC highlighted that two field umpires with clear views of the incident did not award a free kick for a dangerous tackle, and no Melbourne players remonstrated with Frampton at the time. While acknowledging these observations aren’t always definitive, Gleeson noted the tackle occurred in isolation, without pack or congestion, making the resulting injury a “dreadful injury” but “not reasonably avoidable.”
Collingwood’s representative, Myles Tehan, presented Frampton’s actions as evidence of reasonable conduct, describing the event as a “terribly unfortunate football incident.” Tehan argued that the tackle evolved from an attempt to corral a low player to something more complex when Mihocek “sought to drive through the tackle and lift his head upwards.” He further pointed out that neither of Frampton’s arms were pinned, allowing him to brace, and that Mihocek’s body landed predominantly on top of Frampton, which would typically offer protection.
Frampton expressed his deep remorse and concern for Mihocek, stating he “would never in a million years want to hurt another player” and felt “horrific” upon realising the severity of the injury. He maintained he approached the tackle cautiously, prioritising Mihocek’s care and avoiding a head-on collision. The stressful period for Frampton has eased with news of Mihocek’s positive recovery.
The incident left 33-year-old Mihocek temporarily losing feeling in some limbs after being knocked unconscious. The MCG crowd of over 88,000 fell silent as medics attended to Mihocek for an extended period. He was carefully transported from the ground and subsequently underwent surgery. Notably, this was Mihocek’s first game against his former club, and players from both sides offered well wishes before his removal.
Melbourne confirmed that Mihocek has been out of his hospital bed and is walking, though his return-to-play timeline remains “indefinite” according to the club’s medical report. Senior Collingwood figures and players have been in contact with Mihocek, expressing their relief at his recovery.
The decision to overturn Frampton’s ban has drawn commentary from various football personalities. Eddie McGuire, host of Footy Classified and former Collingwood president, argued on Tuesday evening that the ban should be overturned, labelling the incident a clear accident. He analysed the replay, noting Mihocek’s forward momentum and the difficulty of avoiding contact in such situations.
The tribunal’s decision underscores the complex nature of assessing on-field incidents, particularly when severe injuries occur as a result of what is deemed an accidental clash. While the outcome is a relief for Frampton and Collingwood, the focus now shifts to Mihocek’s continued recovery and his eventual return to the field.
