Star Adelaide Crows midfielder Ebony Marinoff has been referred directly to the Tribunal for the front-on contact that fractured the neck of Greater Western Sydney recruit Brid Stack.
Stack was rushed to hospital on Sunday after she was hurt attempting to make a tackle during the fourth quarter of the AFLW practice match at Adelaide's Norwood Oval on Sunday.
Scans confirmed Stack had suffered a stable fracture of the C7 vertebra but no injury to the surrounding nerves.
The 34-year-old from Ireland was discharged from hospital on Sunday night and does not require surgery, but will wear a neck brace in the short-term.
She is expected to make a full recovery.
Marinoff, a two-time premiership player and two-time All-Australian, was charged with forceful front-on contact, with the incident assessed as careless conduct, severe impact, and high contact.
She can't make an early guilty plea given the matter has been referred directly to the Tribunal.
"This was an incredibly unfortunate accident and we're thankful that Brid has avoided serious injury," GWS head of women's football Bri Harvey said.
"Brid and her family have made incredible sacrifices to come to Australia to play in the AFL Women's competition and we will be supporting them all the way through her recovery.
"We'd like to thank all those who provided Brid with the best possible care both at the ground and in hospital across Sunday."
The practice match - which was called off after the injury - was Stack's first game of football after a decorated career in Gaelic football.
Stack is an 11-time All-Ireland winner for Cork and was named the 2016 Ladies Footballer of the Year.
Australian Associated Press
