Brisbane Lions contracts: Dayne Zorko, Ryan Lester set to earn extensions

Dayne Zorko and Ryan Lester are poised to play on at Brisbane in 2025 after helping launch last year’s Grand finalist back into premiership contention after a rocky start to this season.

A young brigade of emerging stars has received the bulk of praise for Brisbane’s mid-season turnaround but career-best campaigns from two Lions stalwarts have been just as pivotal to their success.

Ryan Lester and Dayne Zorko are the two longest-serving players at the Lions, having started their careers in 2011 and 2012 respectively.

Brothers by law, teammates by chance and great mates by choice, the veteran duo has become the bedrock of Brisbane’s defence during a rollercoaster season that is just now peaking at the perfect time.

Brisbane football boss Danny Daly says it is a matter of when, not if the pair sign contract extensions into next season having both lived their recent football lives on one-year deals.

“We’re in chats with their management, albeit very brief at the minute,” Daly told this masthead.

“We will start ramping up talks with their management about what they’re thinking (soon). Both of them have warranted going around again. It basically just becomes a decision for those guys on what they want to do.

“Both boys have been pivotal in terms of our success over the last 10-12 weeks.”

Ryan Lester has been crucial to Brisbane’s defence. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Lester, 31, will celebrate his 200th AFL game on Sunday. His is a remarkable story of perseverance and self-belief.

Through a different lens so-too is Zorko’s. The ageless 35-year-old looked destined for the scrap heap a few seasons ago as soft tissue injuries continued to mount.

Now he is a genuine All-Australian contender and key player in Brisbane’s surge towards September.

Last year was a watershed season for both men who, had circumstances not been so kind, could very easily be watching the Lions’ eight-game winning run from the stands.

Delisted and redrafted as a rookie ahead of the 2023 season, Lester was handed the VFL captaincy and began the year expecting it to be his last.

But an injury to Darcy Gardiner opened the door for a return to the AFL side in round 7 and the man they call ‘Frog’ has not missed a game since.

With a nothing-to-lose attitude, Lester reinvented himself in the twilight of his career and is now among Brisbane’s first picked and most consistent contributors.

“He’s a great example to our younger players about resilience, working hard, being a good clubman and living by the trademark,” Daly said.

“At the start of last year we spoke to him about being VFL captain – help the young kids coming through and play that kind of role. But lo and behold he’s in the team by round 7 and hasn’t looked back.

“His form has been outstanding. He’d be in the top five or seven in our best and fairest right now. I don’t think he’s had his colours lowered too often this year. He’s in career-best form at the minute.”

Dayne Zorko with his second QClash Medal of the year. Picture: Matt Roberts/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Lester nailed the defensive aspects of his role as the third tall and this season added an offensive edge to his game to help energise Brisbane’s ball movement.

But no player has been as pivotal to the Lions’ transition game as Zorko, whose switch to halfback after Keidean Coleman went down with an ACL injury in the very first game of the season was a masterstroke.

The five-time club best and fairest winner and 2017 All-Australian could be set to add to both, as he compiles a clear career-best campaign.

By the numbers, Zorko is enjoying an even better season than 2017 and to the eye he is currently one of the most impactful ball users in the AFL.

One of the few individual accolades missing from his trophy cabinet was a Marcus Ashcroft Medal as best afield in a QClash – not anymore. His 32-disposal outing against the Suns last weekend secured back-to-back honours for the future Lions legend.

At age 35, he is proving there is plenty of tread still left on the tires.

It took until October last year for Brisbane and Zorko to agree to terms on a one-year deal. It would be a genuine shock for it to take that long this time around.

“Up until last year his pre-seasons had been pretty minimal with his calf and Achilles setbacks,” Daly said.

“But he’s been able to get a good block of pre-season in, which you need as an AFL footballer so you can recover and prepare yourself week to week … if you don’t have that as a stepping board, you’re in trouble.

“He goes to all the lengths to make sure he’s fit and raring to go. I think he’s looked at players like Scott Pendlebury and Boomer Harvey and how they went about it as they got older.

“One thing he has is his pace and agility. He knows what he needs to do to keep his longevity in the game.”

Originally published as Brisbane Lions contracts: Dayne Zorko, Ryan Lester set to earn extensions