Three-game AFL striking ban upheld for van Rooyen

AAP

Melbourne have suffered a major pre-finals blow, potentially losing key forward Jacob van Rooyen for the rest of the AFL season through suspension.

The Demons failed in their bid to have van Rooyen’s three-game ban for striking overturned or reduced.

It means he will miss the fifth-placed Demons’ final home-and-away game on Saturday against the Western Bulldogs, and that Melbourne will need to win two finals for him to play again this season.

Van Rooyen is having a career-best season, kicking 42 goals in 22 games.

The Demons forward was charged with striking after he concussed Port Adelaide defender Aliir Aliir in a marking contest on Saturday night at Adelaide Oval. It was graded as severe impact, careless conduct and high impact.

After the 90-minute hearing, where van Rooyen testified that he was trying to mark the ball when he collected Aliir, the tribunal jury deliberated for nearly an hour before upholding the charge.

Melbourne had argued van Rooyen’s attempt to mark the ball was not careless, but the tribunal rejected their case.

Tribunal chair Jeff Gleeson KC also turned down a bid from the Demons to have a biomechanist give evidence for van Rooyen.

“The swing of Van Rooyen’s left arm constituted the act of a strike. It was a forceful blow. It was not simply a trailing or leading arm that Aliir collided with,” Gleeson said in the verdict, adding the panel found it was careless.

“Van Rooyen was initially intending to mark the ball, but we find that shortly before impact, he ceased to intend to mark the ball. We say this despite van Rooyen’s evidence to the contrary.

“Even if it was van Rooyen’s sole objective at all times to contest the mark, we find that he did so in a way that failed to take reasonable care to avoid acts which could be reasonably foreseen to result in a reportable offence.

“Van Rooyen had time to move his right arm in response to seeing Aliir and he could have done so to some extent or sufficient extent with his left arm.”

Why Viney’s September dreams hang in the balance

Jon Pierik

Melbourne vice captain Jack Viney faces a race against time to return for the finals despite a successful comeback through the VFL.

Viney had 19 disposals, including a goal and a game-high 10 clearances, for Casey in the VFL in his comeback from Achilles tendon and back issues.

He had not played a game at all this season, one in which the Demons have rebounded from a horror 2025 to be in the frame for a top-four finish heading into Saturday’s clash against the Western Bulldogs – the final game of the home-and-away campaign.

Adding to the Demons’ dilemma is that Casey’s VFL campaign has ended, finishing the year 18th on the ladder.

While coach Steven King was delighted with Viney’s return, he said on Tuesday there was much to consider when it came to the midfielder’s possible senior return.

“There’s a lot of factors that go into it. Obviously, the team balance. We’ve won six of our last seven, but, I mean, when you have Jack Viney available, it’s only a good thing,” King said.

“So, I want to make sure I do the right thing by the team, the club, but more so Jack as well. We want to make sure when he comes in, he’s really ready. Is that this week? We’ll wait and see.”

The Demons’ midfield has been purring, so Viney would have to squeeze into a line-up that included dynamic playmaker Kysaiah Pickett, the newly contracted Tom Sparrow, Caleb Windsor and Joel Fitzgerald.

The Demons are hoping to be involved in a VFL scratch match this weekend to give several of their fringe players another chance to push for finals selection.

“I think we have to acknowledge that VFL and AFL are different sports. The intensity … you can’t replicate an AFL game,” King said.

“In saying that, we are in a position with five on the bench. We’d be able to manage players coming back in like we do. I think every team would have probably one player that spends a little less game time, so that’s definitely an option.

“For me, we just have to look at our mix and our balance, and there’s more to it than just one player comes in. It’s the ripple effect, how it affects your team and your squad, and also your opponents who are playing that week.”

Viney is contracted until the end of 2028.

King said he was delighted that Sparrow had inked a five-year deal, and said skipper Max Gawn, almost certain to be named an All-Australian for the ninth time, should also be bestowed the captaincy.

“I’m biased, but I think he’s worthy of an All-Australian captaincy, to be honest, with what’s done and how he’s carried this team this year to be sitting where we are,” King said.

“It’s off the back of his work, which is quite extraordinary for a 34-year-old to be doing what he is doing.”