Latest news with #DayneZorko
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘No test?': AFL world unloads on Lachie Neale, Dayne Zorko high shots
Brisbane Lions stars Lachie Neale and Dayne Zorko both suffered heavy head knocks in Friday night's clash with the Crows in Adelaide. James Peatling was swiftly reported for a sling tackle on two-time Brownlow medallist Neale, while Zorko slammed his head into the turf after a fair collision with Alex Neal-Bullen. Both premiership players appeared shaken up after the heavy contact on a wet night in Adelaide, but neither seemed to go for Head Injury Assessments, much to the surprise of those watching on. It is standard practice for players to undergo assessments on the sideline for any head-high shots, yet Neale and Zorko played on after doing their best to shake off the heavy contact and clear their own heads. Watch Lachie Neale's heavy contact in the video player above 'No way to protect himself there Lachie Neale,' Anthony Hudson said on Fox Footy after Neale was tackles. Garry Lyon added: 'Dangerous tackle being paid here against Peatling, who has the job on Lachie Neale. 'Do they take him off and look at it or not? Probably doctors would be looking at that now.' Just minutes later, two-time All Australian Zorko became airborne after contact from Neal-Bullen and the back of his head met heavily with the pitch. 'He looks a bit sore Zorko, that was a great effort by Neal Bullen coming from the left of screen,' Crows great Mark Ricciuto said. 'Zorko hit his head as well but unfortunately just bad luck in the contest that one.' 'I think he's in trouble, he was reported by the umpire for that dumping tackle on Neale,' Fox Footy's Jon Ralph said at halftime. 'I think the extreme dumping motion there, as his head hits the ground, means he's likely to miss one week. 'It's excessive force, there's more than one action in a vulnerable position. They're the things (Match Review Officer) Michael Christian looks for.' Nathan Buckley and Jordan Lewis both agreed Peatling was in trouble. But the fact neither player appeared to get any treatment from club officials was curious to those watching on. Sports writer Ronny Lerner wrote: 'Surprising that Neale or Zorko haven't left the field yet for HIAs. They clearly clutched their heads after they hit the ground hard.' One fan replied: 'Agreed they either need a HIA or they're playing it up.' Another fan asked: 'Neale gonna get that checked out we reckon?' A fourth joked: 'Adelaide's game plan … give concussions.' A fifth stated: 'Wait, what … no concussion test for Neale? Just got his temporal lobe smashed into the ground enough that an infield report was made.' Another tweeted: 'So if Neale hit his head then why isn't he getting checked over?? Double standards for stars?' Many also felt 24-year-old Peatling, who started his career with GWS before moving to Adelaide, could prepare for some time on the sideline. 'That's a suspension. 2 actions, cya later. Neale better do a HIA too,' was one comment on X. 'Reported for rough conduct. Yeah. Fair enough. That's a bad tackle,' said another. 'RDO for James Peatling coming up,' wrote another. 'That's going to be a little holiday for Peatling,' was another comment. In a low scoring contest, the Lions kicked the only two goals of the first quarter before Adelaide fought back, with the visitors holding an eight-point lead at halftime.
News.com.au
27-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Brisbane veteran Dayne Zorko says older players are driving teams to success in AFL
Star Brisbane Lions veteran Dayne Zorko has no intention of taking games off to get through the hardest part of the season, declaring that at 36 he can 'keep soldiering on' as his streak hits 50 games in a row. Revealing he was hitting 'career best' GPS numbers as a running halfback, Zorko also declared the value of having experienced players on the field was evident in the teams making up the top half of the ladder. Keeping those older players firing has been at the core of recent decisions by other clubs to rest them for specific games, often, but not always, for road trips. Second-placed Collingwood has put Scott Pendlebury, 37 and Steele Sidebottom, 34, on ice in recent weeks, a duo Zorko singled out as banner holders for the 'asset' veteran players can be. Zorko, who turned 36 earlier this year, has played all 11 games for the Lions so far in 2025 and has no intention of missing Thursday's clash with Essendon despite it coming just five days since Brisbane took down Hawthorn at the MCG last Saturday. It will be his 50th consecutive game, his 289th overall, and should he maintain his streak, Zorko will play his 300th game in round 24. He said the idea of taking a break had been discussed, but his recovery, and his output, suggested it wasn't necessary. 'We have certainly considered it. Every now and then me and Fages (coach Chris Fagan) have that discussion,' he said. 'Ultimately, it comes back to how I'm feeling … my recovery seems to be great. 'My GPS numbers are as high as they've ever been through my whole career at the age of 36. I'm running almost a kilometre and a half more than as a midfielder or forward. That gives me a lot of confidence. 'I feel as though my body is in a really good position at the moment and I can keep soldiering on.' Zorko, a five-time best and fairest winner, said you 'can't buy experience' and pointed to the Magpie duo as evidence he need not put a timeline on his playing career. 'You can see the enjoyment I am playing with. As long as my body is good and keeps recovering the way it is and letting me get up and play, I won't be putting a time limit on it,' he said. 'We've seen this year how much of an asset older players can be. 'Everyone wanted to retire Pendles and Sidebottom at the start of the year and now they want to sign them on long contracts because they are going so well. 'We are seeing that in a lot of teams up the top half of the ladder how much of a role the older players are having. You can't buy experience, and you can only have that if you are out there.' Brisbane ruckman Oscar McInerney could return on Thursday to exploit Essendon's significant lack of big men, with veteran Todd Goldstein shouldering the ruck load amid an injury crisis at the Bombers. 'I'm confident he'll be right,' Zorko said.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'It'll all pan out': Kiddy's return gives Fagan options
Chris Fagan isn't sure how he'll distribute his embarrassment of halfback riches but is confident Keidean Coleman's return won't stifle Dayne Zorko. Coleman will play against Melbourne on Sunday at the Gabba, 14 months after suffering a knee injury in last year's season opener. His last complete AFL game was the 2023 grand final in which he dominated the first half with incisive, aggressive kicking and finished runner-up in the Norm Smith Medal voting. Coleman's injury allowed the versatile Zorko to shift back into defence, where the veteran flourished and earned All-Australian honours in their premiership season. Emerging pair Jaspa Fletcher and Darcy Wilmot have shown dare, poise and accuracy transitioning into attack, trademarks that have become non-negotiable for good teams in modern football. "It's not just Kiddy (Coleman) ... Zorko is probably the best in the competition at it, Jaspa Fletcher, Darcy Wilmot too," Fagan said on Saturday. "It's great to have those sorts of players in the modern game ... to change angles and break through team defences and Kiddy adds another layer." They can't all fit at once though, Coleman's return at the expense of the concussed Jarrod Berry likely to push Wilmot, Fletcher and Zorko to the wings or further forward in a new-look rotation. Fagan is confident Zorko and Coleman can combine as halfback weapons but, with midfielder or wing Berry only a short-term out, won't predict how things will look later this season. "They can both play there but Zorko can play in a lot of positions, so can Jaspa and Darcy," he said. "It'll all pan out. I'm not 100 per cent certain what it'll look like down the track. "Sometimes injuries unfortunately have a say, so we'll wait and see." Brisbane have spluttered at times in their premiership defence but still sit on top of the ladder at 7-1-1 following a draw with lowly North Melbourne last Sunday. Fagan acknowledged they were lucky to escape with a draw in Hobart but remains unruffled with a longer-term view. "It's just a point in time. I'd rather be there than not there, but a lot of challenges still to come," he said. Darcy Fort has been omitted from the side, Eric Hipwood tasked with deputising for Oscar McInerney in the ruck and Conor McKenna also back in the fray. The Demons (3-6) are 15th but won three straight before losing to Hawthorn last week. Coach Simon Goodwin has recalled first-year forward Aidan Johnson for his third AFL outing, while Jake Melksham and Harrison Petty are also back in a big boost. Jacob van Rooyen, Koltyn Tholstrup and Matthew Jefferson were all dropped.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lions coach takes pressure off returning star
Lions coach Chris Fagan will be happy with a 'contribution' from Keidean Coleman against Melbourne at the Gabba on Sunday, warning not to place 'too much pressure' on the returning Brisbane star. Coleman will make his first AFL appearance since rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in the second quarter of the Lions' first match of their 2024 campaign against Carlton 14 months ago. Having made a successful comeback in recent weeks in Brisbane's VFL team, half-back Coleman has done enough to convince Fagan he's ready for a return to top-flight football, with the unavailability of Jarrod Berry (concussion protocols) providing an opening in Brisbane's star-studded line-up. 'It's been a long road back for him,' Fagan said on Saturday. 'I don't want to put too much pressure on him. He hasn't played (in the AFL) really (apart from less than a half against Carlton) since the grand final in 2023 where he was runner-up in the Norm Smith Medal. 'We're excited because we know what a good player he is, but we don't expect him to be at that level yet. 'It might take a little while to find his feet playing back at AFL level because the intensity goes up a fair bit, so I'll moderate my expectations and just hope he gets through, and that he can make a contribution, and that he builds up as we go through the season.' Coleman's injury last year led to Lions veteran Dayne Zorko making a full-time, and extremely successful, switch to Brisbane's half-back line. Fagan was confident with the 'balance' of his side with having both Coleman and Zorko in half-back roles. 'They can both play there. Zorko can play in a lot of positions, so can Jaspa Fletcher, who's been playing back there. Even Darcy Wilmot can play on the wing as well, so we've got flexibility among those guys,' the Lions coach said. 'I'm not 100 per cent certain what it will look like down the track, and sometimes injury, unfortunately, can have a say with what your team looks like. 'We'll just wait and see, but for now, we've got a good balance this weekend with our team.' The inclusion of Coleman is one two changes to the Brisbane 23 that drew 71-71 with North Melbourne last Sunday, with the versatile Conor McKenna also coming in for omitted forward-ruckman Darcy Fort. Fort's omission means that forward Eric Hipwood will chip in with some rucking duties to assist the Lions' first-choice ruckman Oscar McInerney. 'I expect that to be the case,' Fagan said. 'Oscar will do the lion's share of the work, as he always does, and then Eric will play a little bit more like (the now retired) Joey Daniher did last year, pinch-hitting in the ruck occasionally.' Fagan didn't rule out 'alternating' McInerney and Fort – both in their 30s – during the season to 'keep them fresh'. 'Ruckmen get sore from time to time. They carry a heavy load,' he said.
News.com.au
17-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Keidean Coleman ready for long-awaited AFL return in Brisbane's game against Melbourne
Lions coach Chris Fagan will be happy with a 'contribution' from Keidean Coleman against Melbourne at the Gabba on Sunday, warning not to place 'too much pressure' on the returning Brisbane star. Coleman will make his first AFL appearance since rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in the second quarter of the Lions' first match of their 2024 campaign against Carlton 14 months ago. Having made a successful comeback in recent weeks in Brisbane's VFL team, half-back Coleman has done enough to convince Fagan he's ready for a return to top-flight football, with the unavailability of Jarrod Berry (concussion protocols) providing an opening in Brisbane's star-studded line-up. 'It's been a long road back for him,' Fagan said on Saturday. 'I don't want to put too much pressure on him. He hasn't played (in the AFL) really (apart from less than a half against Carlton) since the grand final in 2023 where he was runner-up in the Norm Smith Medal. 'We're excited because we know what a good player he is, but we don't expect him to be at that level yet. 'It might take a little while to find his feet playing back at AFL level because the intensity goes up a fair bit, so I'll moderate my expectations and just hope he gets through, and that he can make a contribution, and that he builds up as we go through the season.' Coleman's injury last year led to Lions veteran Dayne Zorko making a full-time, and extremely successful, switch to Brisbane's half-back line. Fagan was confident with the 'balance' of his side with having both Coleman and Zorko in half-back roles. 'They can both play there. Zorko can play in a lot of positions, so can Jaspa Fletcher, who's been playing back there. Even Darcy Wilmot can play on the wing as well, so we've got flexibility among those guys,' the Lions coach said. 'I'm not 100 per cent certain what it will look like down the track, and sometimes injury, unfortunately, can have a say with what your team looks like. 'We'll just wait and see, but for now, we've got a good balance this weekend with our team.' The inclusion of Coleman is one two changes to the Brisbane 23 that drew 71-71 with North Melbourne last Sunday, with the versatile Conor McKenna also coming in for omitted forward-ruckman Darcy Fort. Fort's omission means that forward Eric Hipwood will chip in with some rucking duties to assist the Lions' first-choice ruckman Oscar McInerney. 'I expect that to be the case,' Fagan said. 'Oscar will do the lion's share of the work, as he always does, and then Eric will play a little bit more like (the now retired) Joey Daniher did last year, pinch-hitting in the ruck occasionally.' Fagan didn't rule out 'alternating' McInerney and Fort – both in their 30s – during the season to 'keep them fresh'. 'Ruckmen get sore from time to time. They carry a heavy load,' he said.
