Melbourne Challenges Jacob van Rooyen's Suspension at AFL Tribunal

Melbourne Football Club is contesting Jacob van Rooyen's three-week suspension at the AFL tribunal after a recent match against Port Adelaide.

The suspension was imposed by match review officer Michael Christian due to van Rooyen's swinging arm that struck Aliir Aliir high, resulting in a concussion for the Port defender. The MRO classified the incident as careless conduct with severe impact.

With the home-and-away season nearing its end, Melbourne aims to have the suspension reduced, as it could affect van Rooyen's availability for the finals. The club plans to argue that his actions were unintentional, as he was attempting to play the ball. A previous tribunal case involving Adelaide's Darcy Fogarty may influence the outcome, as Fogarty's similar suspension was upheld despite attempts to downgrade it.