The Basin to appeal Mitchell Jackson’s six-week ban for bump that broke Mitchell Rule’s neck

The football club whose player suffered a broken neck during a suburban match in Melbourne’s east is going to appeal the six-week ban handed out for the bump.

UPDATE: The Basin will appeal a six-week suspension handed to Ringwood’s Mitch Jackson for a bump that left footballer Mitch Rule with a broken neck.

The Basin told Leader an appeal had been lodged and would be heard by the Eastern Football League tribunal on Thursday night.

It’s believed the club is also appealing the severity of two suspensions handed to Jayden Brown during a melee following the bump.

Brown received four weeks for striking Daniel Jordanov and two matches for headbutting Jackson.

It declined to comment further.

The Basin footballer Mitchell Rule just seconds after the bump. Picture: Davis Harrigan

EFL chief executive Troy Swainston did not return calls to confirm the appeal.

The Basin did not confirm it was appealing Brown’s suspensions.

Rule will spend the next three months in a neck brace after being left with a fractured C6 from the bump.

He narrowly avoided being a quadriplegic

Ringwood president Jake Keogh said the club was “fully supportive” of Jackson.

He said there was no intent to injure Rule and the outcome was an accident.

Keogh said “several leading members of the Eastern football community” had provided character references for Jackson.

Players remonstrate after The Basin footballer Mitchell Rule is collected high in the Eastern Football League. Picture: Davis Harrigan

“It is unfortunate he (Jackson) has been subject to trial by social media by both those aren’t connected to the case and those who are directly connected to the case, jeopardising the process from the outset,” Keogh said.

“Ringwood and Mitch Jackson have reached out to Mitch Rule and we will continue to support him through his recovery.”

Players were reported after the brawl. Picture: Davis Harrigan

The Basin coach Justin Stanton said last week after the initial tribunal hearing that Brown “took ownership and was remorseful for his actions”.

“We thought we had a fair hearing from the tribunal, we were happy we gave an honest account of what took place,” Stanton said.

“I don’t believe it (Jackson’s bump) was an intentional act but I believe the penalty is inadequate considering the amount of time the victim is going to be spending on the sidelines.”