Daynes from a school of champs

WHEN Dayne Beams handed the Lions’ captaincy to lifelong friend Dayne Zorko this week, he didn’t just force a new inscription on Brisbane’s honour board but also on the record books at Gilston State School.

The school in the Gold Coast hinterland now owns a piece of history as the first in Queensland to produce two AFL captains.

And that isn’t their only record; alumnus John William McLaren was the first Queenslander to play Test cricket for Australia when he took on the Poms in the 5th Ashes test at the SCG in 1912.

When the school produced its 125- year celebration book in 2006, Zorko’s older brother Beau was more prominent, having represented Australia at indoor cricket.

At that stage the career highs of the two Daynes were representing Queensland at national schoolboy carnivals.

The school’s biggest star was Ben Ikin, the youngest player to debut for the maroons in State of Origin.

If they produce another book for the 150th anniversary, you would imagine the two classmates who went on to be multiple club champions, All Australians and, in Beams’ case, a premiership player with Collingwood in 2010, would feature much more prominently.

“It is incredible, out the back of the Hinze dam there, who would have thought,’’ he said. “It might be a hunting ground for AFL players, it’s pretty cool.’’

Zorko, who will captain the Lions against Sydney on Saturday, says he would have no hesitation stepping down the moment Beams decides he is ready to resume his role.