Melbourne’s premiership aspirations have been dealt a major blow after star forward Jacob van Rooyen was suspended for three matches for an ugly hit that ended Aliir Aliir’s 200th game celebrations prematurely.
The Demons’ clinical 76-point demolition of Port Adelaide was overshadowed by the van Rooyen incident in which he leapt in the air, took his eye off the ball and carelessly made heavy contact with his hand to Aliir’s head in the second quarter.
Aliir lay on the ground for some time before being slowly helped to his feet and to the Power dugout shortly before half-time.
Match review officer Michael Christian on Sunday graded the incident as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact, handing van Rooyen a major ban. With one game remaining in the home-and-away season, he appears likely to miss Melbourne’s first final since 2023.
The Demons have until Monday lunchtime to decide if the club will challenge the ban at the tribunal this week. The club was contacted for comment.
“Jacob’s one of the nicest blokes you’ll meet in footy,” said van Rooyen’s teammate Bayley Fritsch, who booted four goals in the rout.
“I saw him go up to Aliir after the game to say sorry. Obviously, he didn’t mean it at all.”
Van Rooyen, who was roundly booed for the remainder of the contest, apologised to Aliir twice – immediately for his spoil gone wrong, then again one-on-one after the game.
Demons coach Steven King didn’t witness the collision real time, but it appears likely he’ll have to prepare for next Saturday’s clash with the Western Bulldogs and at least the start of the finals without the man who leads the Dees’ goalkicking leaderboard this season (42).
“I haven’t really seen it, to be honest,” King said on Saturday night.
“Obviously, Aliir went down, and it was really unfortunate for him, being such a brave intercept player.”
Power counterpart Josh Carr noticed Aliir wasn’t his usual ebullient self in the home rooms after the game.
“He’s OK. He’s, obviously, a little bit flat and a bit quiet, but Aliir’s Aliir,” Carr said.
“He’ll find a way to get himself up. This is the honest truth, but I haven’t looked at it (incident) closely, but at first thought I can see how it happens.
“It didn’t look great, but I didn’t think it was overly (with) malice either.”
Meanwhile, Collingwood’s Beau McCreery has been fined $5000 for careless umpire contact for the third time this season. It is the Magpies’ fifth offence, putting them at risk of a big fine from the AFL.
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Jon Pierik is a sports journalist at The Age. He covers AFL and has won awards for his cricket and basketball writing.Connect via X or email.From our partners
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