Lion sorry for Miller moment

AFL: Brisbane captain Dayne Zorko says he is “embarrassed” after cooling off from his fiery post-siren spat with Gold Coast nemesis Touk Miller.

The Lions star admitted it wasn’t a good look for an AFL captain to trade verbal barbs with his Suns tormentor in the aftermath of Brisbane’s tense four-point Q-Clash win.

“It’s important that I conduct myself well out on the field. Unfortunately, at the end of the game I certainly didn’t do that,” Zorko said.

“(I’m) probably a little bit embarrassed with actually what happened but I’ll certainly learn from that.

“I certainly expect myself to handle these situations a lot better now being a leader of the football club.”

Zorko refused Miller’s handshake after the Suns shocked the Lions in round five earlier this season, but mockingly shoved his hand out for the gesture after turning the tables on Saturday night.

The two sparring partners eventually needed to be physically separated after barely leaving each other’s side all night as Miller limited the Brisbane midfielder to a quiet 17 possessions.

Zorko, elevated to the captaincy mid-season after Dayne Beams indefinitely stepped down to grieve his father’s death, hinted residual tension played a role in his antics.

“Obviously there was a bit of history after the first QClash,” he said. “I probably went about it the wrong way but when you play such a competitive sport, in the heat of the battle things tend to happen.”

The ugly spat is the latest chapter in a growing rivalry between the Queensland clubs, a rivalry that has impressed firstyear Lion Luke Hodge.

“Living in Melbourne I didn’t think there was much of a rivalry between Brisbane and Gold Coast, I can tell you there is,” the four-time champion with Hawthorn said.

“Being out there on the weekend there was a lot said out there, there was some physical acts, it was a good, hard game of football.’’

– AAP