Dayne Zorko says he was provoked into ‘mother’ sledge of Demon Harrison Petty

Dayne Zorko says he was provoked into taking aim at Demon Harrison Petty’s mother but the Lions’ skipper acknowledges he had “crossed the line” with the derogatory slur.

Dayne Zorko has attracted criticism for his sledge of Demon Harrison Petty. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

Brisbane Lions captain Dayne Zorko has broken his silence over his Harrison Petty sledge, revealing his comments were not “unprovoked” or “said in isolation”.

After drawing widespread criticism when he reduced Demon defender Petty to tears in last Friday night’s final-round clash at the Gabba, a remorseful Zorko said he would “take it back” if he could when he addressed his comments publicly on Wednesday.

Zorko took aim at Petty’s mother with a derogatory slur in the third term with the Brisbane skipper acknowledging he had “crossed the line”.

The Lions’ skipper has faced questions over whether he deserved to remain captain next season, but he said the position had always been voted on by the playing group and he would accept whatever they decided.

Zorko apologised to Petty after the match, but the five-time Lions best-and-fairest felt it was important for him to address the comments said in the “heat of battle”.

He said there had been comments flying from players on both teams and his sledge had not been “unprovoked”.

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“Obviously I apologised to Harrison on the final siren and obviously that apology still stands,” Zorko said on SEN.

“I guess my remorse still stands. Certainly if I could take it back there is no doubt I would.

“For me, I want to get across that it was an intense game and from the first bounce there was too-ing and fro-ing from both sides of the fence, players across the field probably stepped up to the line all game.

“I acknowledge that I certainly crossed that. I guess for me it’s just really important that Lions fans and fans in general understand that it wasn’t just an unprovoked sledge and it wasn’t said in isolation.

“As I said, there was too-ing and fro-ing for the majority of the game and, remorsefully, I accept that I overstepped the mark and thought it was really important that I came out and said something and that people understood that.”

Dayne Zorko has attracted criticism for his sledge of Demon Harrison Petty. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

Asked if comments from the Demons had also crossed the line, Zorko said “potentially”, although he did not want to reveal what was said.

But Zorko said he – and the football industry – would learn from the episode.

“But I need to acknowledge that what I said clearly crossed that line and I fully and totally understand that through the heat of battle words are said and for me, in this case, I overstepped the mark,” Zorko said.

“Moving forward I need to learn from this – and potentially the whole industry – that we can learn from this and move forward and understand that sledging can have serious effects on people and we need to be extremely careful in the way that we do it.

“I’m not sure that sledging will ever go out of the game, but certainly the worlds you choose to use, they certainly need (be) used wiser.

“It’s really important that you don’t cross that line like I did.”

Harrison Petty was reduced to tears by Zorko’s sledge. Picture: Channel 7

Responding to questions over whether he should continue as Lions’ captain next season, Zorko said he had spoken to the club about the position – one he took very “seriously”.

He said he would respect whatever the players, who chose the captain, wanted.

“I have had extremely long conversations with our senior administration at the club. They have heard both sides of the story,” Zorko said.

“It should be well known that I take my role as captain extremely seriously and I have ever since I took over five years ago.

“So, I think on that matter, the captaincy has always been a decision that has been made by the players and our playing group. That’s one thing that ‘Fages’ (coach Chris Fagan) and the administration have said, ‘Whoever is captain will be chosen by their players and their teammates’.

“I guess for me, until that is up for decision again, I will respect whatever the players choose to do when that happens, but that’s all that we touched on the matter.”

Zorko said he realised he overstepped the line when he saw Petty’s reaction at three-quarter time.

Steven May confronted Zorko over the incident. Picture: Channel 7

“At three-quarter time it was pretty evident that he made a beeline towards me and I thought ‘Wow, what have I said here that has really triggered him off?’,” Zorko said.

“Then obviously retracing my words and that was clearly something that was a trigger point for him and for that I am extremely remorseful for.

“It was around that three-quarter time mark that I understood I had crossed the boundary.”

Zorko said the events since the match had taken a toll on himself and his family, but also recognised the impact it would have had on Petty and his family.

He said he would use the experience to become a “better person”.

“I just need to take a bit of time to reflect on what was said and how I can get better as a person and as a leader and a player,” Zorko said.

“Moving forward, I just need to be better, there is no doubt about that and use this as an educational piece for me.

“The last few days haven’t been easy for myself, or my family, which I am really sorry for them as well, but obviously understanding that on the other side of the fence it would have been as hard for Harrison Petty and his family, so I apologise to them as well.”

Zorko apologised to Petty after the siren and the pair shook hands. Picture: Channel 7