Triple Grand Final umpire ‘Razor’ Ray Chamberlain says he’s glad Billy Frampton is free to play this weekend, declaring the AFL Tribunal’s decision to overturn the premiership Magpie’s tackling ban – despite Demon Brody Mihocek’s consequent scary injury – was an “excellent outcome” for the game.

Collingwood on Wednesday night successfully annulled Frampton’s three-game ban for the tackle that ultimately broke the neck of ex-teammate Mihocek during the Demons’ eight-point win on King’s Birthday.

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Mihocek needed to be stretchered off the MCG, but is now up and walking after initial fears the injury could’ve been more severe.

The Match Review Officer graded Frampton’s tackle as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact, which led to the initial three-week ban.

The Magpies on Wednesday night argued Frampton’s act was an unfortunate football accident, rather than a careless action – a claim the Tribunal agreed with.

“This is an excellent outcome. I’m thrilled to see this is where it’s landed for Billy, but for the game as well,” Chamberlain told Fox Footy’s AFL 360 minutes after the Tribunal’s verdict dropped.

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“We all witnessed the incident and we’ve felt for both fellows. I felt quite ill watching Brody on the ground.

“He (Mihocek) just slips and that puts him in a position that’s unnatural and unintended. I feel like Billy’s done everything he possibly can in terms of the tackle … it’s not excessive force, it’s not excessive rotation, he doesn’t pick him up and dump him and he’s not responsible, I don’t believe, for Brody’s head being placed in a vulnerable position.

“So I don’t think he’s culpable for what ultimately transpired. I think it’s just a horrible accident that’s comes about due to an array of circumstances that are outside of anyone’s control.”

Frampton spoke at length during the hearing, saying he “felt horrific” after the tackle but insisted “I don’t know what else I could’ve done” in the circumstances.

AFL 360 co-host Gerard Whateley listened to Frampton and said the Magpie’s evidence was “compelling, realistic and heartfelt”.

“This is usually the only way to succeed at the tribunal to be completely forthright and absolutely accurate,” Whateley told AFL 360.

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“Everything that Frampton says marries up with the vision and then right at the end you have you to decide whether Mihocek’s choice to drive out the front of the tackle tipped them or whether Frampton tips them into the ground – and that’s the flex point.”

Melbourne legend Garry Lyon said Frampton had put forward a “pretty impressive case”, adding there was little he could control during the tackle.

“I think when Brody had his head down, you look at even his legs when he’s on the ground and it’s a solid extension of that, so that to me suggests he was trying to drive through and then Billy loses a bit of control,” Lyon told AFL 360.

“Is the reasonable expectation that Billy can identify in that split-second ‘there’s danger here and I (should) let go of the tackle’? I suggest not.

“It looked like when Brody slipped, he then thought: ‘I’ve got to try and get through this.’ I’m not sure if he realised how vulnerable the position he was in … but I thought he was trying to drive his way through it. I don’t think Billy realised either.”

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Whateley added: “I see it the same way as you do. Nobody meant to be in the position they were in. Mihocek certainly didn’t mean to be down there with his head low then his competitive instinct kicks in to forge his way through.

“Frampton said he ‘approaches cautiously’, he reaches over the top so he doesn’t make high contact and he doesn’t go front-on – he does everything right. I just think the momentum turns them all over.

“I think it’s a lot to ask Billy to be answerable for, but he has absolutely answered the questions that were put to him.”