Melbourne forward Jacob van Rooyen has responded to his AFL axing in style with a five-goal outing in the VFL on Thursday, with the Casey Demons smashing Richmond's reserves to the tune of 118 points.
The pair of clubs battled at Casey Fields as their respective senior sides prepare for their annual Anzac Day Eve game for Round 7, with a host of fringe players on their side pressing their case for AFL selection.
Spearheading the Demons' side, van Rooyen booted five goals before the final break, ending his afternoon with 15 disposals and nine marks.
The young forward's strong return, which came against a Tiger defensive unit consisting of AFL-listed duo Jacob Blight and Jacob Koschitzke, as well as Mid-Season Draft prospect Mutaz El Nour, follows van Rooyen being dropped from Melbourne's side after their Round 5 defeat to Essendon.
The 22-year-old was demoted to the VFL last week for Casey's meeting with GWS alongside Bayley Fritsch, with van Rooyen amassing just the one goal from nine touches.
His latest performance is sure to buoy senior coach Simon Goodwin, with the Demons breezing past Richmond in their Round 5 affair.
Casey piled on 21 goals, with a nine-goal final term a strong finish as Aidan Johnson, Mitch Hardie, Bailey Laurie, Jack Henderson, and Paddy Cross all booting multiple goals.
Johnson could've had a more significant afternoon, booting 3.5, while Hardie was among the Demons' most prolific with 34 disposals and nine score involvements.
Former Port Adelaide and St Kilda defender Riley Bonner had a game-high 44 disposals, 28 of which came in the first half, as he continues to enjoy a strong first year with the Demons alongside fellow recruit Hardie.
Like van Rooyen and Johnson, SSP addition Jack Henderson has fallen out of favour at selection but also enjoyed a strong Casey debut, booting two goals from 15 disposals.
Richmond will find some positives in the performance of first-year midfielder Josh Smillie, who collected 23 disposals, five clearances, 11 contested possessions and five marks in his first full game in the yellow and black.
El Nour's strong form continued, recording eight intercept possessions while often under threat, with the Tigers conceding 64 inside 50s.
Richmond were without Mid-Season Draft hopefuls Sam Toner and Jhett Haeata for the match, with the pair having commitments with the Young Guns squad this weekend.
