Zorko injury to test depth ahead of finals

CHRIS Fagan will use the likely absence of injured Brisbane captain Dayne Zorko to build the club’s “density” ahead of the coach’s first AFL finals campaign with the club.

The influential midfielder was benched midway through the third term of the Lions’ 18point defeat of Western Bulldogs on Sunday at the Gabba with a hamstring complaint.

Brisbane led by 43 at the time but the deficit was quickly cut to 17 after Zorko’s injury – a turnaround coach Fagan believed was more coincidence than cause.

He described Zorko’s early night as a “conservative” approach to what he suspected was a minor tweak, although the captain was yet to have scans.

Defender Harris Andrews is likely to take charge if Zorko isn’t named to face last-placed Gold Coast on Saturday in what would be just his fifth game missed in a 163-game career.

A big win at the Gabba would aid Brisbane’s charge for the minor premiership given they are locked in a three-way tie for first on points but sit third on percentage with three games to play.

Fagan downplayed the likely loss of the All-Australian contender, saying it was important other members of the squad continued to contribute like they did on Sunday.

“If Dayne’s out, we’ve got to welcome that, because it gives someone else an opportunity to come in and it keeps building the density in the list,” he said. “You need a squad of players to be successful, not just a team of 22.

“And we’ve got a team where on different weeks, different times, players bob up and have their moments.”

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge was frustrated by his side’s wastefulness, labelling the defeat and his side’s poor kicking in particular “soul destroying”.