COACH IS BACKING INJURED VETERAN
FORMER captain Dayne Zorko faces forcing his way into Brisbane’s round 1 team having not played a preseason game after being ruled out of the Lions’ trial against Geelong on Thursday.
A supposedly minor hamstring tear will now force Zorko out of a fourth successive hitout, with the veteran having also missed last Friday’s practice match against the Swans as well as two intra-club contests.
Despite Zorko’s lack of football, Lions coach Chris Fagan remained upbeat about the 34-year-old veteran’s chances of playing against Port Adelaide in Brisbane’s season opener on March 18.
“We were half hopeful that he’d be right for Geelong but he won’t be,” Fagan said on Tuesday. “We’re very confident he’ll be available for round 1. With an older player like him, I’m not actually that concerned that he hasn’t had match practice.
“He’s a natural touch player. He’s very fit at the moment, so I’m happy for him to come into the season to play straight away. We’re just using the time we’ve got while we’ve got it rather than trying to rush him because there’s no need to hurry.”
Fagan’s endorsement of Zorko will be music to the ears of the experienced midfielder after he stood down as Brisbane’s captain this month. Such is the depth in the Lions’ squad that Zorko, without the captaincy, is perhaps no longer an automatic selection.
He wasn’t missed last week in Brisbane’s 45-point thumping of the Swans, and if the Lions again impress against the Cats at Brighton Homes Arena then Fagan will have some pleasant selection headaches for round 1.
While Zorko won’t play on Thursday night, Lachie Neale is set to start despite suffering a dislocated finger and corked quad on Thursday.
The Lions will announce on Wednesday who will replace Zorko as skipper and whether they opt for a cocaptaincy model.