Brisbane captain Dayne Zorko will park the sledging and focus solely on footy during the AFL finals, after his vile insult reduced Melbourne star Harrison Petty to tears last week.
Petty was visibly upset after Zorko reportedly uttered a verbal slur referencing a member of the Melbourne star’s family during the reigning premiers’ 115-57 demolition of the Lions at the Gabba on August 19.
According to the Herald Sun, the Lions captain’s alleged sledge went along the lines of: ‘I hope your mother dies’.
Dayne Zorko reportedly aimed a vile insult at Melbourne star Harrison Petty on Friday
Zorko subsequently apologised and admitted he had crossed the line and teammate Lachie Neale is confident the Lions skipper will do his talking on the field when Brisbane host Richmond in the elimination final on Thursday.
‘You’ll see him channel that into winning the footy and standing up for our guys in the way that he plays, rather than any of that stuff,’ Neale told Fox Sports.
‘He’s our captain, that won’t change through September […] he’ll lead from the front like he usually does with great intent […] I expect him to put his head over the footy and win it for us and get to work.
‘We’ll back him in 100 per cent.’
Zorko allegedly made a slur about a member of Petty’s family and the pair spoke after the siren
Petty was left in tears on the pitch after a slur was allegedly directed in his direction
Brisbane have won just one of their last six finals appearances, with a 93-60 defeat against eventual premiers Melbourne in the qualifying final last season preceding a 79-78 loss at home against the Western Bulldogs in the semi-final.
But Neale, who secured a third All-Australian nomination this week, insisted Brisbane have all it takes to set the record straight.
‘You get what you deserve in this competition and people are writing us off because of our performances,’ he said.
‘But we still have an inner-belief that we can still do some real damage. We will embrace that underdog status.
Lachie Neale insists the Lions have all it takes to get past their recent poor finals record
‘I know our finals record isn’t great […] but we’ve had two really closes loses and every team we have lost to has gone on to play in the Grand Final.
‘I still feel like our best is capable of beating anyone.
‘When we’re under the pump and on edge a little bit it brings out the best in our team. We know when we get challenged we can respond.’