The King’s Birthday clash between Collingwood and Melbourne saw a lengthy delay due to a horror tackle on Brody Mihocek.
The 33-year-old was taken to hospital after being knocked unconscious on the field and needed treatement.
His first clash against his former club having left the Magpies for the Demons in the summer was cut short in just the second quarter.
Mihocek was wrestled to the ground in possession of the ball with his full body weight landing on the top of his head along with tackler Billy Frampton.
The tackle resembled something out of a WWE match, as he was driven almost vertically down on his head.
Controversially, the Pies were awarded the free kick with the tackle deemed fair.
Brody Mihocek had to be stretchered off following a sickening head injury
The 33-year-old was wrestled to the ground where his head made first contact with the turf
The former Magpie lay motionless on the field as doctors and physios rushed to his side
A concerned hush replaced the raucous atmosphere within the stadium as fans realised the severity of the situation.
The club’s medical staff rushed to Mihocek’s side and were able to load him onto a stretcher after stabilising his neck.
‘He’s in real trouble … it’s dangerous. He’s in real strife,’ dual premiership Kangaroo David King said as Mihocek laid motionless on the field.
‘He was just in the middle of a move and was all tangled up and put in a difficult position for the tackler, Frampton.’
Melbourne confirmed on social media that ‘Checkers’ had been taken to hospital following the injury.
‘Right there with you Checkers,’ they wrote on X.
‘Brody won’t take any further part in the game and is currently heading to hospital via ambulance,’ they added at half-time.
He was down for three minutes in total as physios and doctors checked on the key forward.
Despite heading to the hospital for scans on his neck, it has been confirmed that he was able to move his arms and legs.
Though it still remains to be seen as to whether he had suffered any damage to any vertebrae.
‘The game continues to try and do as much as they can to protect players, from rules changes and those sorts of things. But sometimes in this game, accidents can happen that are pretty dangerous,’ Leigh Montagna told Fox Footy.
Players from both sides approached the stretcher to check on the Demons star as he was carted off
There were heartwarming scenes as both sides went over to check on the stricken player as he was leaving the field.
Speaking at half-time Nick Daicos said of his former teammate, ‘We love him.
‘Every bloke went over to him, that tells you how much we love him, so I hope he’s okay.’
‘That is a magnificent, beautiful scene going over to see their premiership teammate,’ Fox Footy’s Mark Howard said as Magpies players went to Mihocek. ‘That’s a touching moment.’
It is the second time this season that Mihocek has suffered a significant head injury; the 33-year-old was in concussion protocol earlier this year.
He also missed games in 2020 when playing for Collingwood due to a concussion.
