Dayne Zorko thanks AFL after suspension of Touk Miller over ‘squirrel grip’ claim

Brisbane’s Dane Zorko has expressed his thanks to the AFL after the league’s investigation into the ‘squirrel grip’ incident found his opponent Touk Miller guilty of conduct unbecoming.

Dayne Zorko has spoken about Saturday’s “squirrel grip” incident. Picture: Getty Images

Brisbane star Dayne Zorko says he is thankful the AFL followed up his complaint and suspended Touk Miller for a week in a saga he described as “quite distressing” on Friday.

Zorko’s media comments and a secondary Brisbane Lions medical report paved the way for the league to charge Suns co-captain Miller with conduct unbecoming.

It saw the brilliant Suns onballer suspended against Adelaide in an episode Gold Coast football boss Wayne Campbell said had “tarnished” his integrity.

But speaking on Brisbane radio on Friday Zorko made clear he believed the case needed to be heard given the damage to his testicles in the Saturday night tackle.

“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 said.

Touk Miller tackles Dayne Zorko

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

“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.”

The league’s statement said it had been found that Miller made “contact with the groin region of Zorko in a manner that caused Zorko pain and discomfort and ultimately constituted conduct unbecoming in breach of AFL Rule 2.3(a).”

The league said that “in reliance on that breach of AFL Rule 2.3(a), the AFL imposed a sanction of one match on Touk Miller which he has accepted.

“Miller will be unavailable for selection for the Gold Coast SUNS Round 21 match against Adelaide Crows this weekend.”

The league said on Thursday it only opened the investigation following Zorko’s comments about the incident, which saw him immediately complaining to an umpire.

“The MRO reviewed video of the passage of play and with the evidence before him, including the medical report and there being no complaint from the player or club to the AFL, the MRO ultimately determined the vision was inconclusive and did not lay a charge,” the league said.

“In the period following the match, further information came to light including as a result of Zorko making public comment in relation to the incident and by the provision of a further medical report.”

AFL SENSATIONALLY STEP IN AS ‘SQUIRREL GRIP’ SAGA TAKES FINAL TWIST

Gold Coast says co-captain Touk Miller’s reputation has been “tarnished” after the AFL sensationally suspended him for a match for grabbing the testicles of rival Dayne Zorko using its conduct unbecoming rule.

Miller had been told he had no case to answer on Sunday night after the heated incident, which saw Zorko immediately complain to the umpires about his opponent’s treatment.

But Zorko’s public comments on Monday that “my groin region is quite bruised” saw the AFL’s integrity department step in.

The Herald Sun revealed on Wednesday the league was investigating, with Zorko and Miller both interviewed.

The Lions had on Sunday supplied a medical report that suggested Zorko had suffered no damage, so MRO boss Michael Christian did not investigate the matter.

It is understood the Lions later supplied a second medical report to the AFL’s integrity department which detailed the bruising to Zorko’s testicles after Miller’s tackle gone wrong.

The league used its conduct unbecoming rule because Miller had already been cleared under the match review process.

It meant the league could not go back on that finding which cleared him, and it had to use a rule which is often in place for much more serious off-field infractions.

Miller will miss the Suns’ trip to Adelaide. (Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Gold Coast football boss Wayne Campbell said on Thursday Miller’s reputation and integrity had been “tarnished” by the process.

But the league’s integrity department believed it had clear evidence from the medical report and testimony from Zorko that a breach had been upheld.

The one-week suspension means Miller misses the clash against Adelaide in a huge blow for the Suns given his impressive tagging performance on Brownlow Medallist Lachie Neale.

The league’s statement said it had been found that Miller made “contact with the groin region of Zorko in a manner that caused Zorko pain and discomfort and ultimately constituted conduct unbecoming in breach of AFL Rule 2.3(a).”

The league said that “in reliance on that breach of AFL Rule 2.3(a), the AFL imposed a sanction of one match on Touk Miller which he has accepted.

“Miller will be unavailable for selection for the Gold Coast SUNS Round 21 match against Adelaide Crows this weekend.”

Touk Miller tackles Dayne Zorko.

Gold Coast said it believed Miller’s character had been “tarnished” by the episode, with Miller’s absence against Adelaide a significant blow to the club’s chances of success.

“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.”

Miller said he had been attempting to commit a fair tackle on Zorko.

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

The league said on Thursday it only opened the investigation following Zorko’s comments about the incident, which saw him immediately complaining to an umpire.

“The MRO reviewed video of the passage of play and with the evidence before him, including the medical report and there being no complaint from the player or club to the AFL, the MRO ultimately determined the vision was inconclusive and did not lay a charge,” the league said.

“In the period following the match, further information came to light including as a result of Zorko making public comment in relation to the incident and by the provision of a further medical report.”

Originally published as Dayne Zorko thanks AFL after suspension of Touk Miller over ‘squirrel grip’ claim