‘My god’: Dayne Zorko Sledge question that shames AFL

A factor that has gone overlooked in football’s sledge storm shows how extraordinary it is that no punishment has been handed down.

Dayne Zorko left Harrison Petty in tears.

The Brisbane Lions on Monday passed the buck to the AFL over the angry backlash surrounding Dayne Zorko’s ugly sledge — and now the game wants answers.

The Lions captain has been slammed for his on-field spray that left Melbourne’s Harrison Petty overcome with emotion during the huddle following the third quarter.

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Post-match it was revealed Zorko had delivered a personal sledge directed at a member of Petty’s family.

The AFL investigated the incident, while the Lions and Zorko issued apologies and the Demons appeared eager to put the incident behind them.

The Herald Sun’s Mark Robinson revealed what was said.

“The sledge by Dayne Zorko to Harrison Petty was something like this: I hope your mother dies,” Robinson wrote.

Despite the fallout and calls for Zorko to be stripped of the captaincy, he has not been charged by the AFL or sanctioned by the Lions and is free to play Brisbane’s elimination final against Richmond next Thursday.

An incident involving Brisbane captain Dayne Zorko and Melbourne defender Harrison Petty. Picture 7News,

Further pressure has now been put on the AFL to take action since the Lions failed to take any disciplinary measures.

Former Adelaide Crows star Josh Jenkins on Monday pointed out that Zorko’s ugly comment is made even worse by the fact that players receive extensive education and training through the league’s Respect and Responsibility policy on what is unacceptable to say on the football field.

Jenkins said the fact that Zorko still crossed the line is worth a suspension from the AFL.

His comment is the question many want answered: Why has there been no disciplinary action?

“I’m not overly comfortable saying it, but I think he should be suspended for a game,” Jenkins said on SEN radio.

“I think it’s serious enough. I think it’s sinister enough. I think he should miss a game because players are taught more than enough about what is acceptable and what is unacceptable. And for someone of his standing in the game and his status at the club, he’s one of 18 senior captains, I think he should be suspended by the league because it is just unacceptable for that to go on.”

Robinson on Monday night also expressed disbelief that Zorko has not been punished.

“I don’t think this is with the Brisbane Lions. I think it’s with the AFL and I don’t think this is adequately resolved,” the veteran journalist said.

“To say that to someone on the footy field, to say that in any environment, it’s very odd. To not be punished by it, to not give him a fine or something, I find that really strange.

“That there’s no punishment other than the shame and embarrassment. That may be punishment enough, but my god.”

Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd on Monday night also joined the push for Zorko to be stripped of the captaincy.

The Lions have come under heavy fire from the football community after club general manager Danny Daly addressed the incident, but one remark from him caught the ire of the football community.

Harrison Petty seen upset after he was sledged by Lions Dayne Zorko. Screen grabs Channel 7

“The club addressed the issue with Melbourne on Friday night straight after the game, the club made a statement on Saturday morning and that’s where it sits,” Daly told SENQ Mornings.

“To be perfectly honest, our goal right now is to make sure Dayne is okay from a mental health perspective.

“He’s spent a weekend at home on his own with his partner working through it, but from a club perspective, we’ve put it to bed and Melbourne accepted our apology on Saturday and that’s where it lies.”

It was Daly’s next sentence that caused major angst with fans.

“We’re just making sure Dayne is going okay, that’s what we need to do as a football club. He came out and apologised on Saturday … from a mental health perspective we just need to make sure he’s going okay.

“That’s all we’ve done, it hasn’t gone any higher at this stage. Everyone had the weekend off, returned to work today and see what today brings for us.”

Fans unloaded on social media over the perceived view that Zorko was the victim in the situation.

Sports editor Adam Hill wrote: “Absurd that the bloke who said the words in question is now being treated as the victim.”

6 News Founder Leonardo Puglisi wrote: “And what about whether Harrison Petty is ok?”

https://t.co/4jX5OVJV2opic.twitter.com/MBEMMPJTvQ

— Steve Smith (@stevesmithffx) August 22, 2022

Calls are only growing louder for Zorko to be penalised or suspended, with several former players and commentators gobsmacked the AFL hasn’t stepped in already.

Hawthorn premiership player Xavier Ellis said Zorko can count himself lucky he didn’t insult a more fiery player who may have retaliated physically.

“He’s lucky he said it to Harrison Petty and not Campbell Brown or Luke Hodge or Sam Mitchell, because they would have absolutely boxed his brains in,” Ellis said on Triple M, referring to his former Hawks teammates.

“I just think he’s lucky it wasn’t someone with a hothead.

“The look of it — a guy teary on the field — you feel so sorry for Petty.

“There’s two rules with sledging — you have to be a naturally funny person to start with and you have to be intelligent. If you don’t tick both boxes, don’t try. And he (Zorko) obviously clearly doesn’t.”

Zorko’s controversial past has been thrust back into the spotlight following the ugly Friday night incident.