Untold story of the rise of Brisbane Lions AFL star Dayne Zorko

“I’ve never seen a junior player love footy as much as he did.”

“I’VE never seen a junior player love footy as much as he did.”

Those are the words of Ricky Petterd, a former AFL player who was also part of the last team Brisbane captain Dayne Zorko ever played finals with before this year.

It was the premiership-winning Surfers Paradise under-16 junior team, a side that also featured the likes of Jesse White, who played 127 AFL games between Sydney and Collingwood, and Brent Renouf who played 68 games across Hawthorn and Port Adelaide.

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Zorko, 30, has never played in a final since and the Lions loss to Richmond last weekend was his first senior finals appearance.

Broadbeach AFLQ player Dayne Zorko, 19.

It may have taken Zorko some time to enjoy being part of another finals series but Petterd, 31, who played 84 AFL games between Melbourne and Richmond, said the work his former teammate did at the earliest stages of his career helped forge him into a player who could impact a game on the biggest stage.

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“I moved to the Gold Coast when I was about eight and went to Surfers Paradise to play. That’s where I met Dayne,” Petterd said.

“He was a year younger than me but he seemed to be all the time and I reckon he played two games every weekend.

“He always played bottom-age and then top-age. He was always wanting to play and always doubled up.

“He was always small but he has always been such a good player.

Dayne Zorko and teammates warm up during a Brisbane Lions AFL training session at The Gabba. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“Growing up he was always there, always at our feet and wanting to get better.

“He always wanted to improve and I remember that as a junior playing with him.

“His size seemed to be a problem but it wasn’t for him. Even now some players like him, they are just so hard to play on, especially when you have a footy nous like he does.”

Petterd said there was another personality trait that made Zorko stand out as well.

“He was chirpy. He was funny and always chirpy. You always knew he was coming before you saw him,” Petterd said.

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But while his peers were drafted the year they turned 18, Zorko had to wait until he was 22 after being overlooked multiple times.

Dayne Zorko makes a tackle in 2008.

It took Petterd, who currently works as a part-time recruit for the Adelaide Crows, by complete surprise, revealing he tried multiple times to get Melbourne to add him to their list.

“I was definitely surprised. I couldn’t remember the amount of times I talked to Melbourne footy club and said they had to get this kid or draft him or just look at him,” Petterd said.

“They always came back saying he was too small.

“But you look at teams now in the AFL and Richmond for example, their forward line — apart from the two bigs — are quite small and have high impact.

“I don’t think there is a player in the competition Dayne’s size that has as big of an impact as what he does with his possessions and his goals. His scoreboard impact is crucial.

“I know he dominated in seniors for Broadbeach but there were also some things he had to work on and too his credit he did. He has always been extremely hard working.”