AFL 2024: Injuries & Suspensions

Three handed suspensions as Demons, Blues and Cats challenge bans

The MRO laid four charges from Saturday’s action.

Published by
Danielle Sorati

Young Demon Jacob van Rooyen has been charged with striking Gold Coast's Charlie Ballard, with Melbourne deciding to challenge the MRO's two-week suspension.

The MRO graded the fourth term incident as careless conduct, high impact and high contact. Ballard was taken from the ground on a stretcher in the aftermath, but did not suffer a concussion.

van Rooyen, who has played six games this season, will attend this week's AFL Tribunal to challenge the charge in the hope of having his name cleared.

Should van Rooyen and the Demons fail in their challenge, the young forward will miss Melbourne's upcoming clashes against Hawthorn and Port Adelaide.

Both Geelong's Brad Close and Hawthorn's Tyler Brockman are also facing time on the sidelines, handed one-match bans for rough conduct offences.

Close was charged after a fourth term incident with Crow Jordan Dawson, with his dangerous tackle graded as careless conduct, medium impact and high contact.

Close and the Cats have decided to challenge the charge.

Brockman meanwhile was also charged for a dangerous tackle on Docker Brandon Walker, with the MRO similarly grading the first quarter tackle as careless conduct, medium impact and high contact.

Hawthorn have accepted the charge, seeing Brockman ruled out of his side's Round 9 clash with Melbourne.

The MRO laid another rough conduct charge from Saturday's action, with Crow Rory Laird able to accept a $2000 fine for an incident with Cat Tanner Bruhn.

Meanwhile, Carlton will join the Demons and Cats at the AFL Tribunal this week after deciding to challenge Nic Newmans's one-game suspension for striking Brisbane's Lachie Neale.

The AFL Tribunal will be held on Tuesday evening.

Published by
Danielle Sorati