Billy Frampton will be free to play in Collingwood's next game after the AFL Tribunal threw out the three-game ban he faced for his tackle on Brody Mihocek on Wednesday night. The Magpies had challenged the rough conduct charge after the Match Review Officer recommended suspension for the incident at the MCG.
The ruling means Frampton avoids missing three matches, but it does not change what happened to Mihocek in the second quarter of the King's Birthday clash. Mihocek slipped before Frampton wrapped him up, leaving his head and neck vulnerable in the tackle, and he needed medical attention before later undergoing surgery on a neck fracture on Monday night. He will miss the rest of the season, a blow that gives the decision its edge even as Frampton walks away clear.
Frampton faced the tribunal after being charged with rough conduct over the collision with his former premiership teammate. Collingwood argued against the ban on Wednesday evening, and the tribunal dismissed it later that night, clearing the defender to return immediately.
The split outcome leaves Collingwood with one player available and another gone for the year. Frampton can line up next week, while Mihocek faces a long recovery after an incident that has already forced surgery and ended his season.
