Dees star's ban upheld as AFL tribunal rejects biomechanist evidence bid

Melbourne Demons forward Jacob van Rooyen has been denied a reversal of his three-match suspension for striking Aliir Aliir in a game on Saturday night. The AFL tribunal rejected Melbourne's attempt to use biomechanist evidence to overturn the decision, which means van Rooyen will be sidelined for the remainder of the season and could cost the Demons dearly in the finals.

The suspension, handed down by tribunal chair Jeff Gleeson KC, found van Rooyen's actions to be careless and potentially dangerous, despite his claim that he was merely trying to contest the mark. Melbourne had argued that van Rooyen's attempt to mark the ball was not careless, but the tribunal disagreed, ruling that the forceful blow and the fact that van Rooyen ceased to intend to mark just before impact were enough to classify it as a strike.