Frampton Ban Overturned After “Distressing” Mihocek Injury
Collingwood defender Billy Frampton has successfully had his three-match ban overturned following a “distressing” on-field incident that led to a serious neck injury for his teammate and friend, Brody Mihocek. The outcome at the AFL Tribunal means Frampton will be available for selection, a stark contrast to the dire implications of the initial suspension.
Mihocek’s playing future remains uncertain after he sustained a fractured neck during the King’s Birthday match. The incident occurred when his head was driven into the turf during a tackle. While Mihocek underwent surgery on Monday night and is reportedly recovering well and is already mobile, the severity of his injury has ruled him out for the remainder of the season. This was confirmed during the Tribunal hearing on Wednesday night.
The match review officer had initially handed Frampton a three-match suspension, classifying the tackle as careless, with severe impact and high contact. Collingwood acknowledged the severe impact and high contact gradings, but their defence, led by lawyer Myles Tehan, argued that the tackle was not careless but rather an “unfortunate football incident.”
Frampton himself provided a detailed account of the tackle during his evidence. He explained that he attempted to execute the tackle with care but found himself unable to control the landing due to the way Mihocek used his legs to drive forward while bent over, with his head close to the ground.
“It felt like I had him in a pretty stable spot,” Frampton testified, describing the moment he tackled his former Magpies teammate. “And with him driving through … it raised me up and lifted me up. At that point I was suspended in the air holding onto him, and with his momentum we collapsed through no fault of my own.” He added, “I thought it would be a quick holding the ball. I didn’t expect to be lifted and falling over.” Frampton also stated, “I assumed I could pull him onto me. I didn’t think it would be a high impact landing. But with the driving momentum, it spiralled a little bit into being a bit of an out-of-control landing.”
AFL Tribunal counsel Nick Pane, while acknowledging the unusual nature of the tackle and the case, argued that Frampton should have adjusted his actions or even released the tackle entirely, given Mihocek’s vulnerable position. Pane stated, “He pulls him back and into the ground. The effect is Mihocek’s head makes forceful contact with the ground at quite an extreme angle. Mihocek was in a vulnerable position and Frampton should have been aware of that and modified his action.”
The Tribunal’s Decision and Frampton’s Relief
After a 45-minute deliberation, the three-person AFL Tribunal, chaired by Jeff Gleeson, dismissed the charge. In his summary, Gleeson acknowledged the gravity of the situation: “This accidental impact resulted in a dreadful injury to Brody Mihocek. It was, however, not reasonably avoidable. Billy Frampton did not engage in conduct that was unreasonable in the circumstances.”
Had the ban been upheld, Frampton would have missed crucial upcoming matches against Port Adelaide, Richmond, and Gold Coast. The 29-year-old expressed his profound distress over Mihocek’s injury. “We hit the ground. I got the free kick. He sort of lay there and said he needed help, he couldn’t move,” Frampton recalled. “That was distressing to hear. He said that a few times. It was quite confronting to see. He’s a good friend of mine. I would never in a million years want to hurt any player, let alone Brody. It was a pretty stressful couple of days for me wondering what was going on with him.”
Frampton was quick to reach out to Mihocek, messaging him immediately after the game. When he didn’t receive a response, he sent another message after hearing about Mihocek’s successful surgery. Mihocek later replied, and Frampton expressed his relief at hearing from his friend.
The overturned ban is a significant reprieve for Frampton and Collingwood, allowing the defender to focus on his game and support his team, while the club and fans alike will be hoping for Mihocek’s full recovery and a return to the field in the future. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the inherent risks in Australian Rules Football and the fine line between a hard, fair contest and a serious injury.
