Key Demon faces nervous MRO wait with AFL finals near after high shot

Melbourne's Jacob van Rooyen unintentionally struck Port Adelaide's Aliir Aliir high during a collision in Saturday night's AFL match. Van Rooyen was trying to disrupt an Aliir mark in the second term when he misjudged his swing, resulting in a controversial hit. The Melbourne forward now faces a waiting period from the match review officer to determine if he will face suspension as the finals draw closer.

Despite Melbourne's commanding 20.12 (132) to 8.8 (56) victory over Port Adelaide, keeping them in contention for a top four finish, the incident sparked significant debate. Aliir, who sustained a flat, was helped off the field by trainers and failed a HIA test, missing his 200th AFL game. While Power coach Josh Carr acknowledged the miss and Aliir's leadership, he did not delve into the specifics.

Demons coach Steven King also had not closely examined the incident, deeming it unfortunate for the Power's intercept defender. Melbourne currently sits fifth on the ladder, tied with Brisbane and Hawthorn, but trailing in percentage. Their upcoming home-and-away match against the Western Bulldogs will determine if they secure a top-six position, avoiding the wildcard round and advancing directly to the finals.