Collingwood's appeal of Billy Frampton's three-match ban will kick off at 5.30pm tonight.
Frampton's tackle on Mihocek, which resulted in a fracture in his neck, was graded as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact.
The ban was handed down on Monday, with the Magpies moving quickly to appeal the sanction.
Zero Hanger managing editor Mark Stevens has implored the tribunal to free Frampton.
Collingwood will appeal Billy Frampton's three-match suspension for rough conduct at the AFL Tribunal.
Details: https://t.co/OJcXDbePSq pic.twitter.com/ItVo5eLuh8
— AFL (@AFL) June 10, 2026
But the league has taken a dim view on incidents which cause significant injuries, particularly to the head and neck region, in the past.
If upheld, Frampton will miss games against Port Adelaide, Richmond and Gold Coast after the club's bye this weekend.
LIVE BLOG
The Tribunal will begin at 5:30pm (AEST).
5.31pm: Collingwood is challenging careless conduct. It accepts high contact and severe impact for Billy Frampton's tackle.
5.33pm: Melbourne expects Brody Mihocek to miss the rest of the season.
5.34pm: Giving evidence, Billy Frampton indicates he took measures to prevent contact to the head. Frampton says after he grabbed Mihocek, he felt he had Mihocek pinned and he felt the 33-year-old try to drive through the tackle before it 'fell apart from there'. "His momentum collapses my way through my fault of my own, I feel," Frampton says. "I felt like he was in a position to use his hands and arms to protect himself. Because of our momentum, I thought I could pull him onto me and I would take the brunt (of the impact)...but with the driving momentum, it spiralled a little bit into an out-of-control landing...I don't feel like I contributed in any way to the force." Frampton adds that he feels Mihocek's force lifted him off the ground.
5.39pm: Billy Frampton confirms that he messaged Mihocek twice and Mihocek responded to the second message, sent after Melbourne's statement yesterday.
5.44pm: Frampton disputes that there was downward pressure on Mihocek's back from his left arm during the tackle, instead indicating he wanted to keep them connected, rather than pushing him downward. It was put to Frampton that he knew Mihocek's head was significantly lower than his hip, which Frampton said was too much information to process in such a frame of time. It was put to Mihocek he could have released his right arm and perhaps his left arm. Frampton: I don't think so, at the time, I'm thinking I'm within my rights to make a tackle, he's voided his prior opportunity...so I had no reason to let go."
5.49pm: Frampton: "I feel like it's incredibly unlucky how it's all played out, I don't think I can be able to see that (coming)."
5.52pm: Nick Pane (KC), representing the AFL, indicates it is rough conduct because the tackle is of an inherently dangerous kind, considering the position of Mihocek's head at the beginning of the tackle and he was rotated into the ground with excessive force.
5.56pm: Nick Pane (KC) argues Mihocek was in a vulnerable position and Frampton should have been aware of that. A reasonable player would have realised that holding Frampton's right arm over Mihocek's shoulder and neck would have realised it could have resulted in his head making forceful contact with the ground. Therefore, Frampton should have done more, such as releasing the tackle earlier, and by not doing so, he breached his duty of care.
5.59pm: Nick Pane (KC) submits that even though Mihocek had an arm free, Frampton should have known he could not have used it to meaningfully brace for impact.
6.03pm: Nick Pane (KC) submits that once Frampton was aware of where Mihocek's head and body was, he should have released to minimise impact. He argues the footage does not support Frampton's evidence that he did not contribute to the force, arguing both players contributed to the force.
6.04pm: Myles Tehan, representing Collingwood begins his submission by highlighting that the decision to challenge was not made lightly given Mihocek's status as a former Collingwood champion, and his injury. He adds the challenge does not reflect any denial of the seriousness of the injury.
6.14pm: Myles Tehan, representing Collingwood, submits the tackle started as one thing but turned into another because of Mihocek's actions, which Frampton could not have foreseen.
6.18pm: Myles Tehan, representing Collingwood, submits that what has caused the terrible result in this tackle was the awkward position of Mihocek's head and neck, not the level of force. The manner in which Mihocek acted in the tackle by seeking to drive through the tackle, changed the tackle in a way Frampton could not foresee.
6.21pm:
Richard Gleeson (chair): "Anything you want to highlight in response, Mr Pane?
*Awkward silence*
Gleeson: "Probably better if you aren't on mute.
Nick Pane (AFL): "You'd think I would have figured it out by now!"
6.22pm: Nick Pane submits that while he approached the tackle appropriately, as submitted by Collingwood, once circumstances changed, he should have done more.
6.23pm: The tribunal is now deliberating.
