Brisbane skipper Dayne Zorko ruled out of AFL top-of-the-table battle

The Brisbane Lions must overcome the loss of captain Dayne Zorko and two other key players to beat AFL premiers Melbourne.

Dayne Zorko is out with a hamstring injury. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Brisbane coach Chris Fagan has taken a safety-first approach with Dayne Zorko, with the Lions skipper to miss his side’s top-of-the-table AFL clash against Melbourne.

Zorko injured his hamstring in Brisbane’s last-start 21-point win over St Kilda at the Gabba.

But with the Lions having had the bye last weekend, there were genuine hopes that Zorko would be available for Thursday night’s MCG blockbuster on the back of an extended break.

However, Fagan has elected not to rush his skipper back.

That’s despite Zorko having trained strongly on Tuesday.

“The running he was doing ... I thought he was moving as well as I’ve seen him move – I was pretty buoyed by that,” Fagan said.

“He was close, but I think it’s best to give him a rest, take the opportunity of the bye plus another week,”

“It may not hurt him just to have this little break and then launch for the last eight games of the season.

“That’s what I’m hoping for ... (and) I think that could well be the case.”

Lions skipper Dayne Zorko is sidelined with a hamstring injury. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images

If the Lions are to end an eight-year MCG drought, they will also have to do it without defender Darcy Gardiner, who is sidelined with rib and lung problems, and the in-form Zac Bailey who is out due to health and safety protocols.

Replacing the trio are debutant Jimmy Tunstill, defender Jack Payne and midfielder Thomas Berry.

“There’s been all these hoodoos we’ve been able to overcome. This is just another one – another step in our journey,” Fagan said.

“It’d be good to (win) if we do it. If we can’t, we’ll just wait for another opportunity. It’s as simple as that.”

“It’s a 50-50 bet at the moment – they’re a good side.”

However, the Demons recent for has been anything but “good”, with the reigning premiers hoping to avoid a fourth successive defeat on Thursday night.

“In an given season, teams have peaks and troughs, no matter how good you are,” Fagan said.

“We’re expecting the best version of Melbourne. That’s what good teams do – the bounce back.

“They’re a great contested-ball side, so are we, (and) whoever gets the edge in that department will go a fair way towards winning the game.”

The Lions haven’t played at the MCG since losing there to Hawthorn in round one of the 2020 season.

The competition went into a Covid-19-enforced break following the match.

“By half-time the competition been cancelled. It was a weird day, An empty MCG, it just didn’t feel right,” Fagan said

Originally published as Brisbane skipper Dayne Zorko ruled out of AFL top-of-the-table battle