Jacob van Rooyen three-game AFL ban upheld on appeal

The AFL appeals board has dismissed Melbourne’s attempt to overturn a three-game suspension for forward Jacob van Rooyen. The decision follows a striking charge involving Port Adelaide defender Aliir Aliir, which resulted in Aliir being concussed during a marking contest at Adelaide Oval.

Melbourne’s legal team argued that the tribunal made an error of law by rejecting expert evidence from a biomechanist. The expert suggested van Rooyen had insufficient time—approximately 0.2 seconds—to react and move his arm to avoid contact. The defense also cited rules regarding incidental contact during marking contests.

However, the three-person appeals board, chaired by Richard Loveridge, deliberated for only 22 minutes before upholding the original verdict. Tribunal chair Jeff Gleeson KC previously ruled that van Rooyen’s left arm constituted a forceful strike and that the player failed to take reasonable care to avoid the contact.

As a result of the upheld ban, van Rooyen will miss Melbourne’s final home-and-away game against the Western Bulldogs. For the Demons to have him available for the finals, they must win two consecutive matches.