An unnerving hush descended across the MCG on Monday as premiership Pie turned Melbourne recruit Brody Mihocek was stretched off after being on the wrong end of an awkward tackle.

Mihocek remains in the Alfred Hospital on Monday night awaiting the results of scans, but having feeling in his arms, legs, fingers and toes after the incident.

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Mihocek gathered the ball at half-forward during the second quarter of the Demons’ clash against Collingwood when he was tackled by Billy Frampton.

But with Mihocek turning into Frampton, the Magpies defender guided the Demon to the ground, leading to his head acidentally hitting the turf.

Play immediately stopped, with the Demons wasting no time calling for the stretcher.

“He’s in real trouble … it’s dangerous. He’s in real strife,” dual premiership Kangaroo David King said on Fox Footy.

“He was just in the middle of a move and was all tangled up and put in a difficult position for the tackler, Frampton.”

CODE Sports reporter Jon Ralph at half-time told Fox Footy that Mihocek had been taken to hospital to assess a neck injury. But Mihocek was moving his arms and communicating after coming from the field, so the worst-case scenario had been ruled out.

“He’s at the hospital at the moment, that’s all we know,” Demons coach Steven King said on Kayo Sports’ AFL 360.

“We are awaiting some more scans…but obviously all our thoughts and prayers are for Brody’s family, and even for Billy (Frampton) here.

“I think it was just one of those unfortunate circumstances where Checkers slips, and all our fingers and toes are crossed for him at the moment, but hopefully it’s good news.

“You almost feel guilty carrying on with the game when you know something like that’s happened.”

Ralph said post-game on On the Couch there was “only cautious optimism” about the nature of the injury, with the club “unable to rule out” cracked vertebrae, a bruised neck or a nerve-based issue – which they’re keen to see him avoid.

The tackle from Billy Frampton that forced Brody Mihocek to be stretchered off the MCG.Source: Fox Sports

Mihocek’s former teammate Jack Crisp told The Age: “It didn’t look good but when we all went over to wish him well he looked at me and smiled, he was in good spirits.

“He was moving his arms and legs I reckon just to make sure everything was OK, but he had a smile on his face when I looked at him on the way past which made me feel better.

“It was the first time playing against him and every time we ran past each other on the field we were bumping each other so we were having a bit of fun out there, but that happens which is quite sad, so we really wish him the best.”

Dual All-Australian Leigh Montagna said there was an “eerie silence” at the venue after the incident.

“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,” Montagna told Fox Footy.

Mihocek was in concussion protocols earlier this year and missed games in August 2020 when he was with Collingwood.

“This does have an emotional toll on the group. It’s almost like family once you get to this stage at AFL level because you spend so much time together,” David King said.

Montagna added: “This would be a unique one because there’d be a lot of Collingwood players that probably are as tight or have more of a relationship with Brody Mihocek for the time they’ve played together. This would affect both sets of playing groups.”

As Mihocek was loaded onto the stretcher, both Melbourne and Collingwood players went to Mihocek as a show of support.

“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.”

The crowd stand as Brody Mihocek of the Demons leaves the ground during the 2026 AFL Round 13 match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Melbourne Demons at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 8, 2026 (Photo by James Wiltshire via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Montagna added: “They’ve always shown class this Collingwood team under Craig McRae.”

Courageously though, the Demons went on to win the King’s Birthday thriller by eight points despite Mihocek’s absence to win their seventh-straight match at the MCG this season.

Melbourne captain Max Gawn remained uncertain on the latest regarding his veteran teammate post-match when speaking to Fox Footy, and revealed he locked eyes with Mihocek’s father amid the break in play.

“I was just eye-balling his Dad for a while there (during treatment), I’m keen to know how he is,” Gawn said in the changerooms.

“When our medicos our time with that, you know it’s pretty serious. My heart goes out to Brody and his family, and hopefully it’s the best result.”