Dayne Zorko defends speaking out after one-match ban for Touk Miller

A claim on radio from Dayne Zorko ended in a one-week ban for Gold Coast’s Touk Miller and the Brisbane veteran is happy with the result.

Touk Miller has been banned for a squirrel grip on Dayne Zorko.

Brisbane midfield veteran Dayne Zorko thanked the AFL for letting him tell “my side of the story” after a complaint earlier in the week resulted in a one-week suspension for Gold Gold star Touk Miller.

Comments made by Zorko in the media on Monday following an incident in last weekend’s Q-clash, as well as a secondary Brisbane Lions medical report, moved the AFL to investigate allegations Miller grabbed his Brisbane opponent “on the nuts”.

Despite being cleared by the match review officer, the league investigation found enough evidence to charge Miller with conduct unbecoming and he accepted a one-game ban despite the Suns claiming his reputation had been tarnished.

Returning to the radio airwaves on Friday morning, Zorko said the Suns would have done the same thing and he was glad the incident was looked further into and a “difficult week” had ended in a result he was happy with.

Touk Miller’s alleged squirrel grip on Dayne Zorko.

“What I will say is the support from not only the club, but I really appreciate the AFL actually looking deeper into it and hearing my side of the story as well. I thought it was really great that they were able to do that,” he told SENQ, confirming he and Miller had not spoken since the incident.

“It’s finished now, the investigation is over and I’m just looking forward to playing this week.

Touk Miller has receiving a one-match ban for making contact with the groin region of Dayne Zorko in a manner that caused pain and discomfort and ultimately constituted conduct unbecoming in breach of AFL Rule 2.3(a).

Full details: https://t.co/h7m37in09fpic.twitter.com/hmIIuAgwms

— AFL (@AFL) August 3, 2023

“We saw in the vision what had (taken place). The fact the AFL were open to hearing and obviously we sat down with the Integrity Unit and the Suns would have done the same.

“I’m happy to put it past me now. It was a difficult week but the support from the club and the AFL in whole has been amazing.”

Dayne Zorko has defended his complaint. (Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

In a club statement on Thursday night, Miller said his intention was always to execute a fair tackle.

“It was not my intention to harm Dayne and if that has occurred from my actions I would like to apologise to him,” he said.

Suns football boss Wayne Campbell also expressed the club’s disappointment with how the matter was handled.

“We accept the AFL’s decision but as a club we are extremely disappointed in the outcome,” Campbell said.

“Touk is the captain of our football club and has built a reputation as a fair and strong leader who is admired by the entire AFL community.

“He is one of the most highly respected players in the competition and it’s disappointing his integrity and character has been tarnished during this process.”

Originally published as Dayne Zorko defends speaking out after one-match ban for Touk Miller