Melbourne Demons forward Jacob van Rooyen free to play after four-hour appeal process
Jacob van Rooyen has learned his fate at the AFL tribunal appeal board for a striking charge on Gold Coast Suns defender Charlie Ballard.
After a deliberation period that lasted over two hours, and a hearing that went for four hours total, the appeal board ruled in favour of Melbourne with the forward now free to play.
He was banned for two matches on Tuesday after the AFL tribunal upheld a decision by the AFL match review office.
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The appeal judgement went for four hours with AFL's legal counsel Andrew Woods dropping out momentarily at one stage of the appeal matter.
Will Houghton KC, representing Melbourne, called upon the character of van Rooyen and referenced rule 18.5 (marking contests) in his defence.
Charlie Ballard of the Suns suffers an injury while challenging for the ball against Jacob van Rooyen. Albert Perez via Getty Images
"We submit the tribunal was wrong in law, because it sought to limit the true operation of the rule (18.5.3, incidental contact in a marking contest will be permitted if the player's sole objective is to contest or spoil a mark)," he said.
"The rule is there to protect a player whose sole objective is to either contest the mark or spoil the mark.
"He went and spoiled the mark, using an outstretched arm and fist to punch the ball away. That should've been the end of the matter.
"Van Rooyen was found to be an honest player, who told an honest story about an incident in which he achieved the objective every player should be able to achieve: to spoil a mark."
Appeal board chairman Murray Kellam ruled in the Demons' favour with van Rooyen free to play Hawthorn on Saturday.
