Senior Dayne Zorko (2011-)

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Had a disappointing start this season Tinka after a great finish to season 2014. Played some truly outstanding games in the second half of the year and really stood up in tough times as a leader. He has come a long way from kicking goals in the NEAFL for Broadbeach to where he is now but thank god the Suns traded him to us because he has made the most of his chance at the big time. Am glad he has a club champion award on his list of achievements as he deserves it as a reward for his four seasons at the club. Well done Zorks!!!!
 
I'm sorry but there is no way Zorko had the year that the other three "winners" had. Sadly the 2015 winners have nothing but an asterisk next to their names; quite embarrassing to be honest.
 

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Our 2015 Club Champions

Out of a challenging season, a record four Lions have emerged as recipients of the Merrett-Murray Medal.

Dayne Beams, Stefan Martin, Mitch Robinson and Dayne Zorko were awarded joint Medallists at the annual Club Champion awards dinner this evening.
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Dayne Zorko is the only player of the quartet to have played every game this season. Martin (20) was suspended for two matches and Robinson (21) missed one match through injury.

Zorko finished runner-up last season and claims his first Merrett-Murray Medal.
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Dylan12 said:
I'm sorry but there is no way Zorko had the year that the other three "winners" had. Sadly the 2015 winners have nothing but an asterisk next to their names; quite embarrassing to be honest.
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Zorko played a full season. That means he only averaged just under six points per game as compared to Beams' over eight, and Martin's 6.5. Playing more games gets you more chances at points (assuming you're playing ok), the same as the Brownlow, the Coleman and every other award.
 
Player Reviews: Part Three

Vice Captain Dayne Zorko’s form in the back half of the season was exceptional, earning the 26-year-old his first Merrett-Murray Medal at this year’s Club Champion awards night. The Queenslander racked up a game high 38 possessions against Adelaide, attributing a move further up the ground to getting the most out of his football. Across the season he averaged a career-best 22.95 disposals per game but wasn’t able to match his goal tally from 2013 (26), finishing the season with 18 goals.
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Is rightfully a real fan favourite but season 2015 netted some mixed results for Tinka. His first half of the year was poor form wise but you couldn't fault his endeavour or passion. He was able to string it all together in the second half of the year though and was in arguably career best form which resulted in a club champion medal. Heading in to 2016 Zorko will need to focus on producing a consistent, 22 game year. If he can he will finish top three in the club champion count for the third year running and possibly win his second Merrett-Murray Medal as he is a great player at full flight. His pace and attacking game style adds so much to the side and when he runs at full pace through the middle of the ground with Hanley all Lions fans sit up straight with excitement and anticipation. Hopefully he makes it to the 100 game milestone as well:thumbsu:
 
Dayne Zorko Will Represent As 2016 Multicultural Player Ambassador

Vice-Captain Dayne Zorko will represent the Brisbane Lions and the Australian Football League as a 2016 Australia Post Multicultural Player Ambassador.

From a Eastern European background (former Yugoslavia), Zorko, in addition to his role as an NAB AFL Auskick Ambassador, will support the ongoing development of the Queensland multicultural strategy to help unite diverse communities through Australian Football and will assist in programs including the Queensland All Nations Cup.
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Dayne Zorko's Story

“My story is a little different,” Zorko told LionsTV.

“My father was born in Yugoslavia that no longer exists. The area he is from is Slovenia. His parents lived there for the majority of their lives. They decided to flee the country when he was quite young – around six or seven and headed to Australia by boat and arrived in Melbourne.

“That’s where dad’s love of AFL really grew. Once he moved to Queensland and had the four of us children he decided AFL was the number one choice for us.”
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Dayne Zorko among best AFL midfielder-forwards, happy to share Brisbane Lions leadership love

DAYNE Zorko doesn’t do stats — so he says.

The Brisbane gun is renowned for keeping statisticians busy during the footy season. But numbers never drive him on the footy field — so he says (because we all know how difficult this is to avoid in the fantasy sports era).

“Sometimes stats can lie. It doesn’t necessarily determine how well you’re going for the team,” Zorko told foxsports.com.au.

“They might look nice, but it’s not the be-all and end-all of the game. There’s a lot of other things you do that contribute to you playing well and helping the team out.”

The problem for the modest Zorko, however, is his numbers are too good to ignore. In fact, they are among the best in the competition for his player-type.

Since arriving at the Lions as a mature-age recruit, Zorko has turned into an AFL star in just four seasons.

Such has been his dramatic individual rise over the past two years that the 26-year-old is rated an “elite” forward-midfielder according to Champion Data. Officially, he’s the third-best player of that category in the competition, ahead of the likes of Luke Dahlhaus and Steve Motlop.

When it came to specific rankings for forward-midfielders in 2015, Zorko was rated “elite” for SuperCoach points (101), disposals (23), contested possessions (9.4), metres gained (363) and pressure points (48.5). He was also “above average” for uncontested possessions (1.8) and clearances (3.2).

However in a Queensland-based team that has finished 12th or lower in the past six consecutive seasons, he probably hasn’t received the recognition he has deserved.

Zorko admitted he wasn’t aware of his achievements when informed of his “elite” mantle, stressing his individual KPIs have never been numbers-based.

“I have little mental triggers that if I do them throughout the game, I’m more than likely going to be involved in the game. Then that’s when your natural ability comes in and you can play your natural game,” Zorko said.

“Training’s probably the biggest factor, just putting a lot of time and effort into your craft and developing yourself, not just as a player but a person as well. An AFL career is pretty short and you want to get the most out of it.”

Zorko’s numbers took a big, yet almost accidental, boost in 2015, due to the array of injuries key Lions players suffered.

Blows throughout the season to Tom Rockliff, Pearce Hanley, Dayne Beams and Jack Redden forced Zorko to spend more time in the midfield and on a wing than he had anticipated.

While he enjoyed the more demanding role and spending more time near the footy, it took him away from the forward 50m arc — his first love.

Setting goals up for teammates, rather than kicking them himself, was a “rewarding” experience for Zorko. But he admits there’s few who enjoy a goal as much as he does.

“I love trying to hit the scoreboard. It’s always great kicking a few goals and celebrating them while enjoying each other’s company out on the field. It also sets up an environment that fans can really feel a bit of energy off,” he said.

The Lions have some promising, emerging key forwards in Jono Freeman and Michael Close, while the additions of Josh Walker, Eric Hipwood and Josh Schache will hopefully help the club fill its most gaping chasm.

But Zorko — and no doubt coach Justin Leppitsch — realise the goal love needs to be shared at the Lions, who were ranked second-last in the league for points scored last year.


The 174cm pocket rocket says he won’t be the only midfielder at the Lions trying to boost his goal tally in 2016.

“With the limited rotations coming in, it’ll also force midfielders to rest forward as well. There’ll be a big onus on them to kick goals, not only when they’re in the midfield, but also when they potentially go forward,” Zorko said.

“It’s not a pact, but it’s a team goal that we want to kick more goals as a midfield group. I think it’s important to take that heat off our small forwards and our talls that they don’t have to kick the score every single week.”

Not only has Zorko been doing a lot of kicking and handballing in recent years, he’s also been doing a lot of sharing.

He was part of the Lions’ four-way best and fairest tie last year, claiming the Merrett-Murray medal alongside Beams, Stefan Martin and Mitch Robinson.

It doesn’t stop there, as Zorko has to share vice-captaincy duties with four other teammates in 2016, with Beams and Daniel Merrett recently joining Zorko, Daniel Rich and Pearce Hanley, as well as captain Rockliff, in the Lions’ leadership group.

“It doesn’t really bother me too much. It’s a team game,” he laughed. “Individual awards are nothing without the team.”

“They’ve strengthened up that leadership group and offer a lot of experience, especially Daniel who has over a decade of experience and Dayne’s played in a premiership. They’re pretty handy bonuses for our little team.”

Zorko describes himself as the “Energizer bunny” of the club’s leadership group.

“Every bloke leads in a different way. You’ve got guys who go out there and talk a lot, you’ve got other guys who lead purely by actions and I’m the guy who tends to be the motivator,” he said.

“I’m always chirping and getting excited around the boys and making them feel at home.”

Zorko never played a final with Broadbeach in the QAFL and hasn’t featured in September at AFL level since joining Brisbane ahead of the 2012 season.

He knows he’ll have to be patient, as the Lions’ young, budding list isn’t likely to finish in the top eight in the coming years. But that won’t stop him from dreaming.

“I honestly couldn’t tell you the last time I played in a final. It’d be at least 10 or 12 years ago,” Zorko said.

“It’s definitely something I’d like to see, whether it’s this year or not.”
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Brisbane prepared to offer Josh Schache a five-year deal

Lions football manager Matthew Francis, welfare boss Craig Lambert and list manager Peter Schwab are in Melbourne this week meeting with player managers.

They have already met with Zorko’s new manager Tom Petroro and Alex McDonald who looks after No. 2 draft pick Schache.
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Stride boss Tom Petroro has taken over Zorko’s affairs and immediately opened talks with the club.

Petroro was not prepared to provide any commentary on contract negotiations when contacted by The Courier-Mail.

But the Lions confirmed an offer was already on the table and the feedback was that Zorko was keen to get the deal done.

Lions CEO Greg Swann said the deal would be for either three or four years.

“We’ve made an offer and we are hoping he will accept it,’’ he said.
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Where will they line up in 2016?

With the arrival of new recruits Tom Bell, Ryan Bastinac and Jarrad Jansen creating more strings to the Lions’ midfield bow, you’d expect Vice-Captain Dayne Zorko to spend more time in the forward line in 2016.

Drifting from half forward to the midfield, the Queenslander attributed a move further up the ground to getting the most out of his football in 2015. Zorko’s form in the back half of the season was exceptional, earning him his first Merrett-Murray Medal at the 2015 Club Champion awards night.
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Zorko Is A Lion For Life

Brisbane Lions Vice-Captain Dayne Zorko has declared he will be a Lion for life, committing to the club for the next four years.

The 27-year-old, one of four winners of the Lions' best and fairest last season, has put pen to paper to remain at the Hyundai Centre until at least the end of 2020.

Zorko becomes the 10th Lion to re-sign with the Club over the past six months, joining Vice-Captain Pearce Hanley, Stefan Martin, Mitch Robinson, Marco Paparone, Harris Andrews, Ryan Harwood, Jaden McGrath, Rohan Bewick and Josh Clayton.
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Zorko: Potential To Taste Success

Dayne Zorko says there is no reason why the current crop of Lions can’t emulate the success of the Club’s early 2000s.

It was revealed yesterday that Zorko, 27, had put pen to paper to remain at the Gabba until the end of the 2020 season, ensuring the Brisbane Vice-Captain will finish his career with the Lions.

“We want to help rebuild this Club, it was obviously so successful in the early 2000s.

“There is no reason why we can’t emulate that. It can all change around pretty quickly,” Zorko said.
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Zorko's Surprise Visit

It’s every little Auskicker’s dream.

Six-year-old Zachary arrived home from school on Monday to be treated to a surprise visit by Lions Vice-Captain and NAB AFL Auskick Ambassador Dayne Zorko.

Zorko made the special trip out to Zachary’s house to hand deliver Zachary’s 2016 Auskick backpack, as all first year Auskickers in Queensland start to receive their backpacks in the mail over the coming weeks. Armed with his brand new footy, Zachary and Dayne spent some time doing a kick to kick in the backyard.

An iconic aspect of NAB AFL Auskick is the Auskick backpack that kids receive when they sign up to the program for the first time. NAB AFL Auskick is a safe and fun program for boys and girls aged 5 to 12 years of age. It promotes team work, allows kids to learn and develop their AFL skills in a safe and fun environment with their friends.
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