Melbourne will appeal two-game ban for Jacob Van Rooyen

A mistimed spoil earnt a Melbourne young gun a two-week suspension, but as debate rages, the club has made a call.

Jacob van Rooyen was suspended for this hit on Charlie Ballard. Picture: Albert Perez/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Melbourne has contacted the Gold Coast to check on the welfare of Charlie Ballard after deciding to appeal forward Jacob Van Rooyen’s suspension amid an outcry from former stars.

The young Demons forward was given the two-week ban for a spoiling effort gone wrong in Saturday night’s win over the Suns.

The incident was graded as careless conduct, high contact and high impact on Sunday, but Melbourne officials believe it was a football act as Van Rooyen attempted to spoil Ballard taking a mark.

Ballard was stretchered off the ground but cleared of any neck injury and he is likely to take the field this week.

Melbourne will appeal Jacob van Rooyen's two-match sanction.

📝 | https://t.co/tNvvh7gCUl

— Melbourne Demons (@melbournefc) May 8, 2023

On Monday morning, Melbourne confirmed it would appeal the suspension, which many former players, including Collingwood great Nathan Buckley, thought was over the top.

“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,” Buckley told SEN.

“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.

Charlie Ballard is attended to by trainers. Picture: Albert Perez/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“That’s exactly what Van Rooyen was doing. There was some head contact, but …”

Melbourne confirmed it had reached out to the Suns to check on Ballard.

“The club has reached out to the Gold Coast Suns, and pleasingly Ballard has recovered well and is expected to play this week,” a statement said.

Van Rooyen will face the AFL tribunal on Tuesday night.

Originally published as Melbourne will appeal two-game ban for Jacob Van Rooyen