TWIST OF FOOTY FATE

Story of how Suns coach stopped Zorko becoming a Hawk

SUNS coach Stuart Dew has emerged as the unlikely figure who helped deliver Dayne Zorko to Brisbane.

Zorko will play his 150th AFL game tomorrow at Metricon Stadium and in a bizarre twist of fate it will come against the team who set him on the path to joining the Lions more than a decade ago.

Zorko’s brother, Beau, has revealed the 30-year-old was one of two men Hawthorn were considering taking with pick 45 of the 2007 national draft. The other was Dew, who had retired at the end of 2006 before announcing his comeback.

The Hawks had just three selections in the draft that year and had already taken Cyril Rioli with 12 and Brendan Whitecross with 29.

History shows the Melbourne club opted for Dew and the decision proved to be astute, with the now Suns figurehead producing a famous third-quarter effort in the 2008 grand final against Geelong that delivered two goals – also setting up two others in the space of a few minutes – to break the game wide open.

“In his draft year Dayne had interest from six clubs and the most notable was actually Hawthorn,” Beau Zorko revealed. “We were informed Hawthorn were going to take Cyril and they didn’t have many picks, it came down to either Stuey Dew or ‘Tink’ (Dayne).

“They took Stuey and won the flag the next year.

“It’s funny how the guy Hawthorn drafted instead of him is now coaching the Gold Coast Suns who are playing Dayne in his 150th game.

“It’s amazing how the world works.”

Zorko had to take the long road to the AFL following that year, winning three best and fairests for the Broadbeach Cats senior side and the NEAFL’s Syd Guildford Trophy in 2011 before joining the Lions through a trade with Gold Coast who originally took him as a Queensland zone selection.

The midfielder has gone on to win four best and fairests at Brisbane, was an All-Australian in 2017 and is the current captain of the Lions.

“He has done a fair bit for the kid who couldn’t get a crack because he was too small, not quick enough and turned the ball over too much,” Beau Zorko said.

“Did Hawthorn make the right choice? Absolutely they did. They won a premiership.

“But would Dayne change anything for the world? Absolutely not.”

Dayne Zorko said he had no regrets about his journey.

“I’m very grateful Brisbane gave me the opportunity as a 22-year-old to come down and play,” Zorko said.

“There wouldn’t be many Gold Coast-born players who have reached the 150-game milestone.”

Zorko’s first experience with an AFL team came in 2007 when he was asked to be a top-up for a North Melbourne intra-club game at the Carrara venue and now 12 years on he will reach his biggest AFL milestone at the same ground.

DID HAWTHORN MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE? ABSOLUTELY THEY DID. THEY WON A PREMIERSHIP BEAU ZORKO