Vickery hit Cox with a roundhouse punch to the jaw during the second quarter of Richmond’s 17-point win over the Eagles after Cox had provoked him with a jab to the chest during a ruck contest.
The incident led to Cox being substituted out of the game and Vickery becoming the subject of nasty abuse from fans for the rest of the night at Patersons Stadium.
The Match Review Panel graded the punch intentional conduct, severe impact and high contact – the highest possible grading under its table of offences and as a result, Vickery’s case was sent directly to the tribunal.
Having apologised to Cox in a phone call and on television, Vickery opted not to contest the case and the jury of Wayne Henwood, Emmett Dunne and Wayne Schimmelbusch took just seven minutes to allocate 495 demerit points to Vickery, suspending him for four matches.
The ruckman will also carry 95 carryover points for the next 12 months.
"There's been a spotlight on it from the media and the wider community, as there should be," said Vickery in quotes on the AFL website.
"When it got referred to the Tribunal, you never know what was going to happen but I'm thrilled to have an opportunity to potentially play again this season.
"I'm very happy that we now have a conclusion to it. I’m able to train hard for the next four weeks and give myself a chance to potentially play in the last round."
It will be interesting to see the repercussions for West Coast, though, given that Cox's substitution mean the Eagles could not sub out midfielder Luke Shuey, who injured his ankle midway through the third quarter.
Shuey played out the game but whether or not he's fit for this week's clash with Adelaide remains to be seen.