Jacob Van Rooyen was hit with a two-match suspension for a marking incident involving Gold Coast’s Charlie Ballard on Saturday evening.
Van Rooyen’s spoil attempt, labelled a ‘strike’ by the MRO, was graded as careless, high contact and high impact.
Ballard was stretchered off the ground at Heritage Bank Stadium as a result of the contact, leaving young Demon Van Rooyen to ponder a potential two-week spell on the sidelines.
SEN’s Tom Morris says MRO Michael Christian had to determine the outcome after Ballard complained of neck soreness in the aftermath.
“Michael Christian as the MRO has to make a determination on the impact before Charlie Ballard gets a scan today,” Morris said on SEN Breakfast.
“He can’t wait another 24 hours so he almost has to make a grading based on a preliminary doctor’s report, which was yesterday.”
See the incident below:
Jacob Van Rooyen has been handed a two-match suspension for this incident. pic.twitter.com/fdpH2HyUnj
— AFL (@AFL) May 7, 2023
Ballard was also assessed earlier in the match after he was caught by an accidental knee from Kysaiah Pickett.
Kane Cornes asked: “Will the earlier incident with Ballard come into the equation here do you think?”
To which Morris replied: “Not that I’m aware of.”
With all the information at hand, Nathan Buckley implored the Demons - who won by five points - to appeal Van Rooyen’s suspension due to the simple fact that this was not a malicious act.
Buckley asked: “So it was classed as a strike?
“This is the old, ‘do the whole competition a favour, Melbourne, and contest this and get the kid off’.
“I don’t think that he should go for that.
“Having to go back with the flight, you’re not always going to be able to get your eyes back to the ball. You’re looking for the hands of the opponent and you’re trying to get your fist to the hand so you can intersect and hit the ball.
“That’s exactly what Van Rooyen was doing. There was some head contact, but…”
Cornes concurs with Buckley’s sentiment, also urging the Dees to contest the sanction and make an example for the rest of the league.
“It was his bicep that hit the head, it wasn’t his fist,” he added.
“It’s ridiculous that this could cost someone two games.
“We slow this down and watch it 15 times frame by frame. Just watch it in full speed and put yourself in the player’s position. If he doesn’t go and attempt to spoil, we’re critical because he lets the opposition take the mark. If he misses it by a centimetre we suspend him for two weeks.
“I’m with you, Bucks. Do the competition a favour. I’m sure they will, Melbourne, and appeal this.”
Morris says the Demons are considering their options this morning and have until 11am AEST to appeal.