Immediately after Richmond’s 17-point win over West Coast at Patersons Stadium, it was feared Cox – who announced his retirement at the end of this season during the week - may have played the last game of a glittering career as a broken jaw would probably have ended the campaign early.
Those fears were only exacerbated by Eagles coach Adam Simpson declaring, ‘he’s not good’ when asked about Cox’s condition during his post-match press conference.
But Eagles assistant Brady Rawlings said the outlook was better than expected for Cox.
“Structurally he is okay, just the concussion last night is all he got away with," Rawlings told the ABC in Perth on Saturday morning.
However, despite Cox avoiding a more serious injury, one imagines either the Match Review Panel or tribunal – the case be referred directly to the higher power – will come down hard on Vickery after he delivered a vicious roundhouse punch to the point of Cox’s jaw late in the second quarter.
Cox had provoked a response from Vickery with a jab in the ribs at a stoppage but Vickery’s exacted maximum retribution, his actions firing up the crowd and lading to nasty scenes as spectators abused him on the bench.
Vickery’s father John is the boxing coach at Richmond and one assumes Ty know his way around the boxing ring as well.
A punch like that was reminiscent of former Swan Barry Hall punching another Eagle back in 2008, former West Coast midfielder Brent Staker.
And such is the severity of the incident and potential punishment for Vickery that former Brisbane coach Michael Voss has called on the Richmond ruckman to publically apologise for the incident.
“I would love for him to come out today, not tomorrow, not Monday and write an apology and say, 'I did the wrong thing, that is not an act that we stand for, I wish it didn't happen, I really apologise to Dean Cox, I know how [the game] was to him," Voss said on Melbourne radio station SEN.
"I think he can really win back some credits here if he gets on the front foot immediately and fronts the media and says I did the wrong thing.”