Young forward Jacob van Rooyen has taken a soaring mark and booted three clutch goals to break the shackles for Melbourne in its 18-point comeback AFL victory over Richmond.
Van Rooyen kicked two majors in a four-minute span early in the final term and then added the sealer in his side’s 15.6 (96) to 11.12 (78) win at the MCG on Monday night.
Richmond, inspired by Noah Cumberland’s three-goal first quarter, led by 25 points before half-time in front of 83,985 fans.
But the Tigers (1-1-4) coughed up nine goals to three after the main break in a fourth straight defeat that leaves their season hanging by a thread.
Making matters worse for Damien Hardwick’s side, Maurice Rioli Jr hobbled off in the final few minutes with an apparent hamstring injury.
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Small forward Kade Chandler kicked three goals – all after half-time – and put Melbourne in front early in the final quarter.
In his fourth senior game, 20-year-old Van Rooyen took a towering grab with a ride on Noah Balta to set up his first goal and added a second soon afterwards.
Richmond kicked 1.5 in the final quarter and was left ruing its missed chances.
Gun midfielders Clayton Oliver (32 disposals, six clearances), Jack Viney (30, five) and Christian Petracca (26, three) all shone for the Demons.
Captain Max Gawn was influential on return from a knee injury, claiming six contested marks and kicking a late goal.
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Richmond was well served by Jack Riewoldt (four goals) while Tim Taranto (33 disposals, six clearances) was busy, as was speedster Jayden Short (30 touches) on return from a calf injury.
Cumberland’s early cameo helped give the Tigers an 18-point lead at quarter-time and it grew to 25 when Riewoldt’s second major made him the third player in AFL/VFL history to reach 400 career goals at the MCG.
But late goals to Bayley Fritsch and Ed Langdon kept the Demons within reach and they ramped up their pressure around the ball during a frantic third quarter.
Chandler and van Rooyen combined for the first three goals of the final term to give Melbourne the upper hand, with Gawn and van Rooyen completing the job in time-on.
-AAP
