Jacob Van Rooyen Biography

Jacob Van Rooyen makes his AFL debut for Melbourne at the MCG with 9 disposals (5 kicks and 4 handballs), 3 marks, 6 tackles, 3 hitouts and 3 goals in a 50-point win over Sydney.

After being selected at pick No.19 in the 2021 NAB AFL Draft, van Rooyen was required to bide his time at Casey last year, despite kicking 36 goals from 18 appearances that kept his name in selection contention throughout the second half of 2022.

"They have been hard on me just to make sure I'm fit and my game is at an AFL-ready level. It was a little bit (frustrating to wait), but I think I knew in myself I wasn't probably AFL ready; I wasn't fit enough, that's for sure; my body probably wasn’t right to be playing AFL," he said.

"It was frustrating at times, but I know the coaches were doing it for the right reasons and for my long-term betterment."

Melbourne select Jacob Van Rooyen with pick No.19 in the 2021 National Draft.

Draft Report: With his impressive athletic traits, Van Rooyen is a first-round chance in November. He booted 19 goals in 10 WAFL Colts games in his bottom-age year and rated elite for contested marks, marks inside-50, goals and score involvements. The AFL Academy member has made five senior apperances for Claremont in 2021 and is terrific in the air, whether it be on the lead or one-out, given his outstanding bodywork. Van Rooyen booted 13 goals in three games on his return to Colts level before showcasing his versatility, taking three intercept marks in defence against SA at national level.