Brisbane Lions captain Dayne Zorko battling to prove fitness after hamstring injury

Brisbane is keeping the door ajar for skipper Dayne Zorko to prove his fitness ahead of the QClash against Gold Coast after fears he would be sidelined by a hamstring injury.

Dayne Zorko stretches away from the main group at training. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images.

Brisbane skipper Dayne Zorko is racing the clock to prove his fitness for Saturday’s QClash with Gold Coast after being cleared of a major hamstring injury.

The midfielder underwent scans on Tuesday which revealed Zorko’s pain as simple hamstring tightness, paving the way for an early comeback against the Suns.

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The in-form captain ran strongly away from the main group and will only need to pass a fitness test to line up against the Suns.

Zorko left the field just before three-quarter time in the Lions’ 18-point win over Western Bulldogs and failed to rejoin his teammates after icing his left leg.

Brisbane coach Chris Fagan described the injury after the match as a “very minor tweak” and will carefully monitor his captain’s progress ahead of this weekend.

Dayne Zorko tests his hamstring out during a Brisbane Lions training session on Tuesday. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images.

Zorko is in career best-form, averaging 22 disposals and just shy of a goal to go with his captaincy and defensive pressure, but his coach is prepared go without him just in case.

“Footy’s a game that’s full of challenges and you never know when injuries and suspensions are going to come along,” Fagan said following their Round 20 win.

“If Dayne’s out next weekend, we’ve got to welcome that because it gives somebody else an opportunity to come in and play and it keeps building the density in your list.

“You need a squad of players to be successful, not just a team of 22.”

One player making the most of their opportunities is Noah Answerth, who bagged 18 disposals (eight contested), seven intercept possessions and six marks against the Bulldogs to earn his maiden Rising Star nomination.

Dayne Zorko stretches away from the main group at training. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images.

“I was in the city with some of the other draftees (when I was told) and yeah, it was exciting,” Answerth said of being nominated.

“ (Fagan) just told me to keep level headed and keep playing and doing what I’m doing.”

The Victorian has been as much a part of Brisbane’s success as any player since making his debut in Round 6, averaging 12.4 possessions at 78 per cent disposal efficiency, five intercept possessions and 3.7 marks in his 14 games to date.

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“It goes pretty quick, 14 games in and it’s surprising,” Answerth said.

“I never thought I’d get this far so I guess getting that nomination … I can’t thank the Lions staff and players enough for what they’ve done for me.

“It’s been a long time coming to play AFL, and this time three years ago I never thought it would happen.”

Answerth’s rise marks yet another Lions fairytale this year and with finals locked in and Geelong looming around the corner, players could be forgiven for treating Saturday’s QClash as a percentage booster.

The Suns are winless from their past 15 games and shape as cannon fodder for Fagan’s side but Answerth says they’ll be anything but.

“They’re a really good side and a couple of weeks ago, they gave Essendon a real run, so I’m sure with QClash they’ll come up here with real energy,” he said.