Latest news with #Zorko
Mercury
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Mercury
AFL: Lions focused on form not ladder position says Dayne Zorko
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Brisbane veteran Dayne Zorko has promised the Lions won't again fall into the trap of becoming preoccupied with how high they can finish on the AFL ladder despite being in contention to win the minor premiership. With five rounds of the regular season remaining, the second-placed Lions, on the back of four successive wins, are just two points adrift of competition leaders Collingwood, who have suffered back-to-back defeats. If the Lions beat Gold Coast at People First Stadium on Saturday, and the Magpies lose to struggling Richmond on Sunday, Brisbane would be on top by the end of the weekend. If both Brisbane and Collingwood win this weekend, top spot will be on the line on Saturday week when the teams meet at the MCG. However, should the Lions lose to the Suns, Adelaide will move ahead of them with a win over Port Adelaide on Saturday night. Dayne Zorko is focused on helping the Lions to a fifth straight win on Saturday. Picture: Albert Perez/AFL Photos via Getty Images It's that scenario that Brisbane – who despite winning four premierships since the merger of the Bears and Fitzroy before the 1997 season have not won a minor premiership in that period – is most focused on avoiding, rather than being concerned about top spot. 'We found ourselves in a little bit of trouble earlier in the year when we started doing that,' Zorko told SENQ Breakfast. 'We looked where we were on the ladder and there was a fair bit of separation with us and Collingwood compared to the rest, and we felt as though our form started to fluctuate a little bit.' The Lions won just two of six matches in a sub-par May-June period, which resulted in them dropping out of the top two. 'We put all that stuff aside. We just purely focus on what's important from week to week now,' said Zorko ahead of Brisbane's bid for a fifth straight win on Saturday. 'We want to try to finish up as high as we possibly can, but more importantly we want our game to still be in really good check. 'We want to keep improving and adjusting our style to make sure, heading towards that finals period, our game's in the best possible shape we can get it.' Zorko, who has been cleared to play on Saturday after a positive outcome from scan results on a sore foot, expected the Suns to 'respond significantly' to their 61-point weekend loss to Adelaide. 'Their game's still healthy, they're in really good check,' Zorko said of the eighth-placed Suns. 'You have those losses. Collingwood beat us by a monstrous number (52 points) earlier on in the season, and you come back, you respond and you clean things up. 'I'm expecting them to do the same thing, which we'll be ready for.' Originally published as Brisbane Lions focused on Suns, not top spot, says veteran Dayne Zorko
7NEWS
08-07-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Port Adelaide's Hugh Jackson ‘cleared by MRO' for kneeing Brisbane champion Dayne Zorko
AFL great Nick Riewoldt has launched a scathing attack on the AFL after an incident between Port Adelaide's Hugh Jackson and Brisbane champ Dayne Zorko was only lightly sanctioned. During the third quarter of the Saturday night clash at the Gabba, Zorko was curled up over the ball and in a vulnerable position after copping a glancing blow to the head. The 22-year-old Port player was then caught on camera kneeing Zorko in the ribs as he stood over him. The 36-year-old veteran, who had received a free kick which resulted in a Lions goal, was clearly hurt and upset by his treatment. The incident was obviously looked at by the the AFL's match review officer but, incredibly, Jackson only received a tap on the wrist. The incident was graded as intentional conduct, low impact and body contact, and Jackson was fined $3000 (which can be reduced to $2000 with an an early guilty plea). Riewoldt was in shock by the outcome and let rip on his popular segment Roo's Marks on Channel 7's The Agenda Setters. 'Hugh Jackson got a B on this segment last week, this week, it's an F,' Riewoldt said. 'Have a look at the knee here into the ribs of Zorko,' he continued, as 7NEWS chief footy reporter Mitch Cleary shouted, 'fine, fine.' 'That was dirty,' Riewoldt said, 'And cleared by the MRO, Mitch ... you're right.' Riewoldt said it sent a bad message to the rest of the players in the competition. 'So get this players, you can drop your knees into a player when they're on the ground,' he said. 'Go your hardest because you won't get suspended. you'll only cop a fine. Ridiculous.' The message it sends to players in lower leagues and junior footballers is also quite bewildering. The AFL's match review officer follows a matrix, so penalties are graded more harshly when an incident is high and also when the impact is greater. But there have been repeated calls for the AFL to judge incidents on football actions and non-football actions, so players are not punished for accidents and players who engage in off-the-ball punching and striking are punished accordingly.
Perth Now
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
James Brayshaw takes public shot over ‘absolute disgrace'
Former North Melbourne president James Brayshaw has fired a shot at the AFL for wildly inconsistent umpiring which culminated in an 'absolute disgrace' on Friday night. The Channel 7 commentator was calling Brisbane's win over Geelong when Dayne Zorko gave away a 50-metre penalty that started a trend for the night that was an outlier to the rest of the season so far. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Dayne Zorko penalised over 'nonsense' infringement. Zorko was penalised for running into the protected area when Geelong's Shannon Neale was going back to have a shot at goal, despite appearing to run through about 10 metres away from the kicker in an action that had no impact on the play. Neale was taken to the goal line where he booted through Geelong's first goal of the game. At the time, Matthew Richardson called the ruling 'nonsense'. 'It wasn't going to affect anything, I really don't like that, it's just a bit of nonsense there, really,' he said on Channel 7. 'Shannon Neale was just going back for a shot at goal, he wasn't affecting anything in-board of the ground there, Zorko.' Speaking on Triple M the next morning, a frustrated Brayshaw said it started a trend for the night which is at odds with how the game has been officiated for the season at large. Dayne Zorko was perplexed at the infringement. Credit: Channel 7 'What I will say to this, and I don't dive into umps too often, but we haven't had a running into the protected zone infringement all season — has not been one for 13 weeks, suddenly they ping four in three quarters,' he said. Bernie Vince added: 'We always say this, whenever they are hot on something, why don't they come out and tell us? Do they tell the teams? Do they tell us? 'Why does it just, all of a sudden, it just starts. 'So, you see that on a Friday night, does that continue across the weekend maybe? I don't know.' Brayshaw was the Kangaroos president between 2008 and 2016, and saw first-hand the frustration that builds at AFL clubs over such blatant inconsistency. 'Having been inside the four walls, nothing drives footy departments madder than that,' he said. 'They're like, 'You have studiously ignored this rule for 13 weeks, and suddenly, on a Friday night, you ping four of them'. 'The one against Dayne Zorko was an absolute disgrace, and it marched the bloke to the line.' The protected area infringements have been a contentious rule since their inception, particularly during periods where umpires seemed to be following a directive to be trigger-happy with them. Zorko appeared to be 10 metres away but was still penalised. Credit: Channel 7 But Vince praised the AFL for how they had softened this season, paying less of them where play was not affected. That's why it made Friday night's sudden escalation more peculiar. 'And that's what happens, quite often it's the 50-metre that puts you to the goal line, it's a certain goal,' he said. 'I actually haven't minded the way they haven't paid free kicks for it (this year). I think it hurts you too much, so I actually don't mind the way they've been doing it. 'Why they changed it last night — I didn't see any Thursday night either, so I don't know why Friday night they ping them all. 'I don't know, I can't talk for them.' Brayshaw also added: 'And then we get a dissent (free kick) — we haven't had one of them for two months either. 'So therefore, what you said was ruder than what everyone else's said for 10 weeks? I don't get it, that's the stuff I don't get.'
7NEWS
23-06-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
James Brayshaw takes public shot at AFL over 50-metre penalty ‘disgrace'
Former North Melbourne president James Brayshaw has fired a shot at the AFL for wildly inconsistent umpiring which culminated in an 'absolute disgrace' on Friday night. The Channel 7 commentator was calling Brisbane's win over Geelong when Dayne Zorko gave away a 50-metre penalty that started a trend for the night that was an outlier to the rest of the season so far. Zorko was penalised for running into the protected area when Geelong's Shannon Neale was going back to have a shot at goal, despite appearing to run through about 10 metres away from the kicker in an action that had no impact on the play. Neale was taken to the goal line where he booted through Geelong's first goal of the game. At the time, Matthew Richardson called the ruling 'nonsense'. 'It wasn't going to affect anything, I really don't like that, it's just a bit of nonsense there, really,' he said on Channel 7. 'Shannon Neale was just going back for a shot at goal, he wasn't affecting anything in-board of the ground there, Zorko.' Speaking on Triple M the next morning, a frustrated Brayshaw said it started a trend for the night which is at odds with how the game has been officiated for the season at large. 'What I will say to this, and I don't dive into umps too often, but we haven't had a running into the protected zone infringement all season — has not been one for 13 weeks, suddenly they ping four in three quarters,' he said. Bernie Vince added: 'We always say this, whenever they are hot on something, why don't they come out and tell us? Do they tell the teams? Do they tell us? 'Why does it just, all of a sudden, it just starts. 'So, you see that on a Friday night, does that continue across the weekend maybe? I don't know.' Brayshaw was the Kangaroos president between 2008 and 2016, and saw first-hand the frustration that builds at AFL clubs over such blatant inconsistency. 'Having been inside the four walls, nothing drives footy departments madder than that,' he said. 'They're like, 'You have studiously ignored this rule for 13 weeks, and suddenly, on a Friday night, you ping four of them'. 'The one against Dayne Zorko was an absolute disgrace, and it marched the bloke to the line.' The protected area infringements have been a contentious rule since their inception, particularly during periods where umpires seemed to be following a directive to be trigger-happy with them. But Vince praised the AFL for how they had softened this season, paying less of them where play was not affected. That's why it made Friday night's sudden escalation more peculiar. 'And that's what happens, quite often it's the 50-metre that puts you to the goal line, it's a certain goal,' he said. 'I actually haven't minded the way they haven't paid free kicks for it (this year). I think it hurts you too much, so I actually don't mind the way they've been doing it. 'Why they changed it last night — I didn't see any Thursday night either, so I don't know why Friday night they ping them all. 'I don't know, I can't talk for them.' Brayshaw also added: 'And then we get a dissent (free kick) — we haven't had one of them for two months either. 'So therefore, what you said was ruder than what everyone else's said for 10 weeks? I don't get it, that's the stuff I don't get.'
The Advertiser
17-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
'It'll all pan out': Kiddy's return gives Fagan options
Chris Fagan isn't sure how he'll distribute his embarrassment of halfback riches but is confident Keidean Coleman's return won't stifle Dayne Zorko. Coleman will play against Melbourne on Sunday at the Gabba, 14 months after suffering a knee injury in last year's season opener. His last complete AFL game was the 2023 grand final in which he dominated the first half with incisive, aggressive kicking and finished runner-up in the Norm Smith Medal voting. Coleman's injury allowed the versatile Zorko to shift back into defence, where the veteran flourished and earned All-Australian honours in their premiership season. Emerging pair Jaspa Fletcher and Darcy Wilmot have shown dare, poise and accuracy transitioning into attack, trademarks that have become non-negotiable for good teams in modern football. "It's not just Kiddy (Coleman) ... Zorko is probably the best in the competition at it, Jaspa Fletcher, Darcy Wilmot too," Fagan said on Saturday. "It's great to have those sorts of players in the modern game ... to change angles and break through team defences and Kiddy adds another layer." They can't all fit at once though, Coleman's return at the expense of the concussed Jarrod Berry likely to push Wilmot, Fletcher and Zorko to the wings or further forward in a new-look rotation. Fagan is confident Zorko and Coleman can combine as halfback weapons but, with midfielder or wing Berry only a short-term out, won't predict how things will look later this season. "They can both play there but Zorko can play in a lot of positions, so can Jaspa and Darcy," he said. "It'll all pan out. I'm not 100 per cent certain what it'll look like down the track. "Sometimes injuries unfortunately have a say, so we'll wait and see." Brisbane have spluttered at times in their premiership defence but still sit on top of the ladder at 7-1-1 following a draw with lowly North Melbourne last Sunday. Fagan acknowledged they were lucky to escape with a draw in Hobart but remains unruffled with a longer-term view. "It's just a point in time. I'd rather be there than not there, but a lot of challenges still to come," he said. Darcy Fort has been omitted from the side, Eric Hipwood tasked with deputising for Oscar McInerney in the ruck and Conor McKenna also back in the fray. The Demons (3-6) are 15th but won three straight before losing to Hawthorn last week. Coach Simon Goodwin has recalled first-year forward Aidan Johnson for his third AFL outing, while Jake Melksham and Harrison Petty are also back in a big boost. Jacob van Rooyen, Koltyn Tholstrup and Matthew Jefferson were all dropped. Chris Fagan isn't sure how he'll distribute his embarrassment of halfback riches but is confident Keidean Coleman's return won't stifle Dayne Zorko. Coleman will play against Melbourne on Sunday at the Gabba, 14 months after suffering a knee injury in last year's season opener. His last complete AFL game was the 2023 grand final in which he dominated the first half with incisive, aggressive kicking and finished runner-up in the Norm Smith Medal voting. Coleman's injury allowed the versatile Zorko to shift back into defence, where the veteran flourished and earned All-Australian honours in their premiership season. Emerging pair Jaspa Fletcher and Darcy Wilmot have shown dare, poise and accuracy transitioning into attack, trademarks that have become non-negotiable for good teams in modern football. "It's not just Kiddy (Coleman) ... Zorko is probably the best in the competition at it, Jaspa Fletcher, Darcy Wilmot too," Fagan said on Saturday. "It's great to have those sorts of players in the modern game ... to change angles and break through team defences and Kiddy adds another layer." They can't all fit at once though, Coleman's return at the expense of the concussed Jarrod Berry likely to push Wilmot, Fletcher and Zorko to the wings or further forward in a new-look rotation. Fagan is confident Zorko and Coleman can combine as halfback weapons but, with midfielder or wing Berry only a short-term out, won't predict how things will look later this season. "They can both play there but Zorko can play in a lot of positions, so can Jaspa and Darcy," he said. "It'll all pan out. I'm not 100 per cent certain what it'll look like down the track. "Sometimes injuries unfortunately have a say, so we'll wait and see." Brisbane have spluttered at times in their premiership defence but still sit on top of the ladder at 7-1-1 following a draw with lowly North Melbourne last Sunday. Fagan acknowledged they were lucky to escape with a draw in Hobart but remains unruffled with a longer-term view. "It's just a point in time. I'd rather be there than not there, but a lot of challenges still to come," he said. Darcy Fort has been omitted from the side, Eric Hipwood tasked with deputising for Oscar McInerney in the ruck and Conor McKenna also back in the fray. The Demons (3-6) are 15th but won three straight before losing to Hawthorn last week. Coach Simon Goodwin has recalled first-year forward Aidan Johnson for his third AFL outing, while Jake Melksham and Harrison Petty are also back in a big boost. Jacob van Rooyen, Koltyn Tholstrup and Matthew Jefferson were all dropped. Chris Fagan isn't sure how he'll distribute his embarrassment of halfback riches but is confident Keidean Coleman's return won't stifle Dayne Zorko. Coleman will play against Melbourne on Sunday at the Gabba, 14 months after suffering a knee injury in last year's season opener. His last complete AFL game was the 2023 grand final in which he dominated the first half with incisive, aggressive kicking and finished runner-up in the Norm Smith Medal voting. Coleman's injury allowed the versatile Zorko to shift back into defence, where the veteran flourished and earned All-Australian honours in their premiership season. Emerging pair Jaspa Fletcher and Darcy Wilmot have shown dare, poise and accuracy transitioning into attack, trademarks that have become non-negotiable for good teams in modern football. "It's not just Kiddy (Coleman) ... Zorko is probably the best in the competition at it, Jaspa Fletcher, Darcy Wilmot too," Fagan said on Saturday. "It's great to have those sorts of players in the modern game ... to change angles and break through team defences and Kiddy adds another layer." They can't all fit at once though, Coleman's return at the expense of the concussed Jarrod Berry likely to push Wilmot, Fletcher and Zorko to the wings or further forward in a new-look rotation. Fagan is confident Zorko and Coleman can combine as halfback weapons but, with midfielder or wing Berry only a short-term out, won't predict how things will look later this season. "They can both play there but Zorko can play in a lot of positions, so can Jaspa and Darcy," he said. "It'll all pan out. I'm not 100 per cent certain what it'll look like down the track. "Sometimes injuries unfortunately have a say, so we'll wait and see." Brisbane have spluttered at times in their premiership defence but still sit on top of the ladder at 7-1-1 following a draw with lowly North Melbourne last Sunday. Fagan acknowledged they were lucky to escape with a draw in Hobart but remains unruffled with a longer-term view. "It's just a point in time. I'd rather be there than not there, but a lot of challenges still to come," he said. Darcy Fort has been omitted from the side, Eric Hipwood tasked with deputising for Oscar McInerney in the ruck and Conor McKenna also back in the fray. The Demons (3-6) are 15th but won three straight before losing to Hawthorn last week. Coach Simon Goodwin has recalled first-year forward Aidan Johnson for his third AFL outing, while Jake Melksham and Harrison Petty are also back in a big boost. Jacob van Rooyen, Koltyn Tholstrup and Matthew Jefferson were all dropped.
