Demons star appeals ban for ‘rotten’ tackle after tribunal hearing
Melbourne forward Jacob van Rooyen’s three-game ban for a high shot on Port Adelaide defender Aliir Aliir was upheld at the AFL tribunal on Tuesday night – but the club have now decided to appeal the heavy suspension.
Van Rooyen ended Aliir’s 200th AFL game early after his left forearm made brutal contact with the Port Adelaide backman’s head in a marking contest, briefly knocking him out.
Jacob van Rooyen will find himself in hot water following this brutal hit on Aliir Aliir. AFL Photos via Getty Images
The AFL’s match review officer slapped the 23-year-old with a striking charge that was deemed careless conduct, severe impact and high contact.
That rubbed him out of the side’s final-round game against the Bulldogs, as well as the Demons’ first final, and either their second final or round one of 2027.
Melbourne tried to get the three-game suspension downgraded but the tribunal members agreed with match review officer Michael Christian’s sanction.
Van Rooyen and the club will take it to an appeal, scheduled for Thursday night.
Speaking earlier, Demons coach Steven King said the club felt there was no intent from van Rooyen to cause harm.
“It’s an unfortunate incident. Firstly, hope Aliir is well and has recovered OK. But I think there wasn’t too much malice in it from Jacob, probably a bit clumsy,” King told Fox Footy on Monday night.
“We’ll let that play out, but we’ll certainly be appealing that decision and we’d love to see Jacob back out there this year.
“We’ll do what’s best for the club and Jacob, and we thought he was really close to touching the ball, if not actually touching it in a marking contest, and it was an unfortunate event that happened.”
In the shadows of half-time, Aliir was running back with the flight of the ball to mark a Demons kick.
Van Rooyen was running forward and looked to be trying to spoil when instead his arm clocked the 31-year-old in the face.
Aliir got to his feet and was able to walk off the field unaided.
At half-time, Port coach Josh Carr confirmed Aliir was out of the game.
Speaking on Fox Footy, former Port coach Ken Hinkley said the collision carried a “pretty diabolical” outcome.
“You can’t do that. It’s a swinging arm – unnecessary,” Hinkley said.
Jacob Wehr and Balyn O’Brien checking on on Aliir Aliir after his hit. AFL Photos via Getty Images
“He clearly wasn’t going to mark the ball. He would have had two hands up if he was going for the ball. I think it’s clumsy, but the outcome is pretty diabolical.”
The hit drew comparison with Crow Darcy Fogarty’s on Swan Harry Cunningham last month. Fogarty copped a three-game suspension.
On the ABC, former AFLW coach Lauren Arnell said it was a “rotten” bit of footy.
“This is far worse [than the Fogarty hit] … but in this case, van Rooyen is leading up at the footy, he’s had no physical pressure from behind, he can clearly see Aliir is cutting in front of him and he’s swung his arm,” Arnell said.
“I think that’s worse than careless … It’s rotten. I think it should be judged harshly. That action cannot get any less than Fogarty’s.”
