WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.<\/p>\n Andrew McQualter\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re finishing the game off well though West Coast, their pressure is now 199. They\u2019re really turning it up to finish it off,\u201d Hawthorn sharpshooter Ben Dixon said in the minutes leading up to full time.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Melbourne goalkickers: van Rooyen 5, Cross 3, Langford, Gawn, K.Pickett, Sharp, Jefferson, Moniz-Wakefield, Chandler<\/p>\n West Coast goalkickers: Waterman 3, H.Reid, Duff-Tytler, Cole, Hutchinson, Champion, B.Williams<\/p>\n THE 3-2-1… <\/p>\n 3. EMERGING TALL \u2018CASHES IN\u2019 EAGLES\u2019 MISFORTUNE AMID \u2018HARD\u2019 FIRST-HALF WATCH<\/p>\n After eight games this season with a new senior sidekick by his side up forward, Jacob van Rooyen\u2019s development took another big step on Sunday afternoon at Marvel Stadium.<\/p>\n Former Magpie Brody Mihocek\u2019s presence inside forward 50 has freed up Melbourne\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Granted, a cruel concussion to West Coast\u2019s Harry Edwards in the first term made the visitors\u2019 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.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s got the right match-up this afternoon I think. I know Ginbey\u2019s been trying to do the and Edwards going off out of the game early has really helped the talls for the Dees,\u201d Western Bulldogs great Brad Johnson told Fox Footy at half time.<\/p>\n \u201cvan Rooyen\u2019s the one who\u2019s been able to cash in with three goals in the first half.<\/p>\n \u201cJefferson and Gawn at different stages created a bit of a nightmare for the West Coast defence. They\u2019re doing their very best, but when they do get out the back, van Rooyen\u2019s smart and pushes towards goal at the right time.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the match-up he\u2019s got that he\u2019s making the most of.\u201d<\/p>\n van Rooyen celebrates one of his five goals during the Round 9 clash between the Melbourne Demons and West Coast Eagles at Marvel Stadium on May 10, 2026 (Photo by Josh Chadwick\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cWest Coast kicked a couple of goals in the second quarter late, but they were a hard watch at times,\u201d former Hawthorn sharpshooter Ben Dixon said at half time.<\/p>\n 322-gamer Nick Dal Santo added: \u201cI 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\u2019t able to generate any offence themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the risks and challenges from a coaching perspective is you want to stop the bleeding, so you put extra numbers behind the football \u2026 but off the back of that, it\u2019s really difficult for you to put any scoreboard pressure on.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cWe previewed this before the game, we knew this would be a huge threat to West Coast \u2026 there\u2019s hitouts, and then there\u2019s hitouts to advantage,\u201d Dal Santo added.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s (Gawn) calculating three to four things at the same time. He\u2019s that advanced that he\u2019s already read the play about what could possibly happen.\u201d<\/p>\n In a small win for McQualter\u2019s side, Harley Reid came from the field at half time as the game\u2019s highest-rated player from just nine disposals, three clearances and a goal. <\/p>\n 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\u2019s on-ball depth that was questioned heading into this season.<\/p>\n \u201cSparrow\u2019s 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,\u201d Johnson said at the main break.<\/p>\n \u201cIn centre bounce and around stoppage he\u2019s doing a great job. The combination with Windsor, who\u2019s also stepped in there \u2026 he\u2019s got speed, he\u2019s got gears and he can work through them whether it\u2019s in attack or chasing them as well.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Sparrow-Windsor combination is working well for Steven King.\u201d<\/p>\n 2. EAGLES DEFENDER\u2019S CRUDE CONCUSSION RUN CONTINUES<\/p>\n In an indefinite, cruel blow to West Coast\u2019s Harry Edwards, the key defender was ruled out with concussion just 14 minutes into his return from a serious Round 2 head knock.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s elbow while trying to tackle Melbourne captain Max Gawn.<\/p>\n His teammate\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are some concerns for him you would imagine, considering the number of concussions he\u2019s had over a short period of time,\u201d Fox Footy reporter David Zita said at half time.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ll take all the time they need to make sure he is okay.\u201d<\/p>\n West Coast stopped short of confirming Edwards\u2019 concussion when he was first ruled out, but revealed the extent of his blow as the third quarter loomed.<\/p>\n In addition to his Round 2 knock, Edwards was also concussed during the Eagles\u2019 AAMI Community Series loss to Port Adelaide on March 1.<\/p>\n Harry Edwards comes from the ground after some friendly fire in the first term.Source: FOX SPORTS<\/p>\n 1. \u2018REALLY TOUGH ONE\u2019: KOZZY\u2019S NERVOUS MRO WAIT AFTER COLLISION<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n In the opening passage of play on Sunday afternoon, the Demons livewire charged towards the Sherrin at full tilt inside West Coast\u2019s forward 50, before accidentally making contact with star forward Jake Waterman above the shoulders.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n While his shot for goal was far from perfect, Waterman was okay to continue playing in a positive sign for the Demons midfielder-forward.<\/p>\n \u201cThis one\u2019s a really tough one I think, because he doesn\u2019t look like he elects to bump, Kozzy Pickett. You can look at his arms, he\u2019s not clenching his fists,\u201d David Zita said at quarter time.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve 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 \u2014 and if he was, was he doing so in a reasonable manner?<\/p>\n \u201cIf he isn\u2019t, it\u2019s careless and there\u2019s a potential to cause injury. If not, he\u2019s free to play. It\u2019s an interesting one.\u201d<\/p>\n Hawthorn sharpshooter Ben Dixon added: \u201cHe\u2019s reaching for the ball. In fast time, when you do it like that he has no other choice.\u201d<\/p>\n The Eagles later assessed Waterman for concussion, with the 28-year-old cleared of any concerns.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776909012_441_poster-fallback.png\"\/)
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