Melbourne younger gun Jacob van Rooyen has moved on from his tribunal controversy with a aim and an help within the AFL premiership fancies’ 54-point victory over Hawthorn.
The Demons killed off the competition with the primary six majors however took their collective foot off the pedal for a interval of the second half in Saturday’s snug 15.13 (103) to 7.7 (49) win on the MCG.
Midfield stars Clayton Oliver (34 disposals), Christian Petracca (30) and Jack Viney (31) had been all necessary in delivering a end result that would go away Melbourne (7-2) sitting on high of the ladder on the finish of spherical 9.
Van Rooyen initially had his controversial two-match ban for placing Gold Coast’s Charlie Ballard upheld on the tribunal however it was overturned on attraction, leaving him free to play towards the Hawks.
The 20-year-old tall was a bit of jittery early however completed with 14 disposals and 5 marks, and was one in every of a dozen Melbourne goal-kickers.
Harry Petty kicked two majors earlier than he was substituted out of the sport with a bruised foot.
Charlie Spargo and Bayley Fritsch additionally completed with two, and All-Australian defender Steven May marshalled the back-line in his 2 hundredth recreation.
A sixth straight defeat was one other powerful capsule for Hawthorn to swallow in a tricky season.
The Hawks had been nicely off the tempo within the first half, with their woes compounded by harm points for James Blanck (corked quad) and late withdrawal Ned Reeves (ankle).
Young midfielder Jai Newcombe can even come beneath scrutiny from the match overview officer for a jab to Oliver’s abdomen at a centre bounce.
Melbourne’s management was established early as their dominance across the contest led to a 23-0 head-start and a 34-point benefit at quarter-time.
The Hawks’ solely aim of the primary half was fortuitous, coming by way of Mitch Lewis when the important thing ahead was not penalised for a push in May’s again.
Newcombe (26 disposals), Will Day (29) and James Worpel (26) breathed life into the competition as Hawthorn confirmed battle, outscoring Melbourne within the third time period and trimming the margin to 27 factors.
But the Demons had an excessive amount of polish and a higher unfold of contributors, and had been by no means critically threatened earlier than kicking clear once more within the last time period.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
