A five-goal haul to Melbourne’s Jacob van Rooyen has continued his side’s strong start to 2026, defeating West Coast by 32 points at Marvel Stadium.
After conceding the opening goal of the game, the Demons went on to kick eight straight majors to ensure there would be no upset under the roof on Sunday afternoon — winning 15.9 (99) to the Eagles’ 9.13 (67).
Watch every match of every round of the AFL Premiership Season LIVE and ad-break free during play on FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
Andrew McQualter’s side managed to bring a better style of football in the second half, though the Demons were disappointing in the fourth quarter and allowed five goals after the final break.
“They’re finishing the game off well though West Coast, their pressure is now 199. They’re really turning it up to finish it off,” Hawthorn sharpshooter Ben Dixon said in the minutes leading up to full time.
In the absence of off-season recruit Brody Mihocek, van Rooyen kicked his second haul of five goals or more for the season, while SSP signing Paddy Cross chipped in with three majors of his own for the home side.
Concern lingers for Eagles defender Harry Edwards out of the contest, who was concussed for the third time in several months halfway through the first quarter.
A rogue, accidental elbow from teammate Elliot Yeo saw the 25-year-old bloodied and forced to leave the ground, before failing his Head Injury Assessment (HIA) test before quarter time.
Melbourne goalkickers: van Rooyen 5, Cross 3, Langford, Gawn, K.Pickett, Sharp, Jefferson, Moniz-Wakefield, Chandler
West Coast goalkickers: Waterman 3, H.Reid, Duff-Tytler, Cole, Hutchinson, Champion, B.Williams
THE 3-2-1…
3. EMERGING TALL ‘CASHES IN’ EAGLES’ MISFORTUNE AMID ‘HARD’ FIRST-HALF WATCH
After eight games this season with a new senior sidekick by his side up forward, Jacob van Rooyen’s development took another big step on Sunday afternoon at Marvel Stadium.
Former Magpie Brody Mihocek’s presence inside forward 50 has freed up Melbourne’s forward line notably this year. But, with the 33-year-old sidelined in the short-term with a moderate-grade hamstring strain, the weight of responsibility now falls back onto van Rooyen.
Granted, a cruel concussion to West Coast’s Harry Edwards in the first term made the visitors’ job tougher than normal to control opposition key forwards, but the 23-year-old still managed to make the most of his opportunities close to goal with three first-half goals.
“He’s got the right match-up this afternoon I think. I know Ginbey’s been trying to do the and Edwards going off out of the game early has really helped the talls for the Dees,” Western Bulldogs great Brad Johnson told Fox Footy at half time.
“van Rooyen’s the one who’s been able to cash in with three goals in the first half.
“Jefferson and Gawn at different stages created a bit of a nightmare for the West Coast defence. They’re doing their very best, but when they do get out the back, van Rooyen’s smart and pushes towards goal at the right time.
“It’s the match-up he’s got that he’s making the most of.”
The 193cm tall finished with 5.1 for the match, as well as a late shot on goal that finished out of bounds on the full that could well have been converted on a different day.
As Eagles head coach Andrew McQualter was forced to throw the magnets around in a chaotic opening term, his side failed to pass the eye test early as the Demons went on a run of eight straight goals.
“West Coast kicked a couple of goals in the second quarter late, but they were a hard watch at times,” former Hawthorn sharpshooter Ben Dixon said at half time.
322-gamer Nick Dal Santo added: “I felt like they actually improved in that second quarter, they were able to minimise the scoring threats that Melbourne presented in that first term. But, off the back of that, they weren’t able to generate any offence themselves.”
“One of the risks and challenges from a coaching perspective is you want to stop the bleeding, so you put extra numbers behind the football … but off the back of that, it’s really difficult for you to put any scoreboard pressure on.”
The Eagles were also feeling the pinch at ruck contests all day, but the sentiment was settled early as the Demons monstered their opponents 13-1 in hitouts to advantage by the main break.
The ruck partnership between Max Gawn and former Saint Max Heath has grown by week, and while Bailey Williams was able to manage some hitouts, it rarely found his own teammates when the game was up for grabs.
“We previewed this before the game, we knew this would be a huge threat to West Coast … there’s hitouts, and then there’s hitouts to advantage,” Dal Santo added.
“He’s (Gawn) calculating three to four things at the same time. He’s that advanced that he’s already read the play about what could possibly happen.”
In a small win for McQualter’s side, Harley Reid came from the field at half time as the game’s highest-rated player from just nine disposals, three clearances and a goal.
The hosts also saw newfound midfield pair Tommy Sparrow and Caleb Windsor perform strongly once more through the middle of the ground, showcasing Steven King’s on-ball depth that was questioned heading into this season.
“Sparrow’s had the 13 disposals in this first (half). We talk about Kozzy a lot in the middle of the ground and the change with that. Well, the change is Tom Sparrow as a permanent midfielder as well,” Johnson said at the main break.
“In centre bounce and around stoppage he’s doing a great job. The combination with Windsor, who’s also stepped in there … he’s got speed, he’s got gears and he can work through them whether it’s in attack or chasing them as well.
“The Sparrow-Windsor combination is working well for Steven King.”
2. EAGLES DEFENDER’S CRUDE CONCUSSION RUN CONTINUES
In an indefinite, cruel blow to West Coast’s Harry Edwards, the key defender was ruled out with concussion just 14 minutes into his return from a serious Round 2 head knock.
The 25-year-old, who missed six rounds after a second concussion in less than a month back in March, was unluckily on the receiving end of Elliot Yeo’s elbow while trying to tackle Melbourne captain Max Gawn.
His teammate’s arm square in the face, and caused a flurry of claret to come from his head despite donning headgear in the aftermath of his recent worries.
“There are some concerns for him you would imagine, considering the number of concussions he’s had over a short period of time,” Fox Footy reporter David Zita said at half time.
“They’ll take all the time they need to make sure he is okay.”
West Coast stopped short of confirming Edwards’ concussion when he was first ruled out, but revealed the extent of his blow as the third quarter loomed.
In addition to his Round 2 knock, Edwards was also concussed during the Eagles’ AAMI Community Series loss to Port Adelaide on March 1.
1. ‘REALLY TOUGH ONE’: KOZZY’S NERVOUS MRO WAIT AFTER COLLISION
Melbourne superstar Kysaiah Pickett will face a nervous 24-hour wait from the Match Review Officer, after a heavy collision in the first 20 seconds of the clash saw him give away a free kick for high contact.
In the opening passage of play on Sunday afternoon, the Demons livewire charged towards the Sherrin at full tilt inside West Coast’s forward 50, before accidentally making contact with star forward Jake Waterman above the shoulders.
The Eagle lay on the ground for several seconds before he got up to take his free kick, but the incident left Pickett instantly looking towards the big screen, searching for clarity over his act.
While his shot for goal was far from perfect, Waterman was okay to continue playing in a positive sign for the Demons midfielder-forward.
“This one’s a really tough one I think, because he doesn’t look like he elects to bump, Kozzy Pickett. You can look at his arms, he’s not clenching his fists,” David Zita said at quarter time.
“We’ve seen him lay a fair few bumps over the journey where he has clenched his fists and gone in hard. I think for Michael Christian, the MRO, he has to just decide whether he was contesting the ball here — and if he was, was he doing so in a reasonable manner?
“If he isn’t, it’s careless and there’s a potential to cause injury. If not, he’s free to play. It’s an interesting one.”
Hawthorn sharpshooter Ben Dixon added: “He’s reaching for the ball. In fast time, when you do it like that he has no other choice.”
The Eagles later assessed Waterman for concussion, with the 28-year-old cleared of any concerns.
Re-live our coverage of Melbourne vs West Coast in the blog below! Can’t see the blog?Click here
Discussion about this post