AFL grand final 2024: Dayne Zorko, Oscar McInerney and Darcy Fort celebrate premiership win
It was an emotional twist to the usual cup lift when Dayne Zorko joined Brisbane’s co-captains and Chris Fagan on stage. The veteran lifts the lid on the memorable moment.
Brisbane Lions veteran Dayne Zorko revealed he knew Chris Fagan was going to call him on stage to lift the premiership cup alongside he and co-captains Lachie Neale and Harris Andrews.
In an emotional twist to the usual coach and captain tradition, former skipper Zorko was called to the dais to raise the cup aloft in a moment that drew raucous cheers from the Brisbane Lions faithful.
“Yeah I did (know). They told me. I didn’t want to,” he said.
“But I feel as though I was a massive part of the rebuild of the club and for Fages to honour that was amazing.”
Saturday’s triumph over Sydney was just desserts for the evergreen 35 year old, who capped a career-best year in season number 13 with the premiership he had so longed for.
Zorko was an unwanted state league superstar when the Lions finally took a chance on him as a 23 year old.
Passed over by the Gold Coast Suns despite growing up in their backyard, the former Broadbeach Cat is now an AFL premiership player for the Lions.
Before Fagan’s arrival in 2019, Zorko had won just 42 of 117 career games in seven seasons at the club.
He captained the Lions from 2018-2022, before stepping down so that Neale and Andrews could take the reins.
“All the hard work after so many years – your whole life really,” he said on reflection.
“Most of us have played football from a young age and to reach the absolute pinnacle with this bunch of blokes … we had our backs against the wall for the majority of the year, so to fight our way through that and get this result is pretty special.”
On the siren Zorko dropped to his knees in ecstasy and was immediately taken in a hug by Neale.
Later, he was able to share the moment with his wife, Talia, daughter, Giselle and son Louis.
Louis proudly calls himself his father’s No.1 fan. On the flight to Melbourne earlier this week, he penned a touching good luck note for Zorko to read.
It read: “Dad good luck for the grand finals … good job for getting so far!! … hopefully you win! … love Louis Zorko.”
“I was handed it with about an hour to go before the game,” Zorko revealed.
“It was an awesome moment.”
‘WHAT YOU DREAM OF’: BIG O SHARES PREMIERSHIP JOY WITH FORT, LIONS
Whether he was putting on a brave face or not, there were few people in the triumphant Brisbane Lions rooms wearing a bigger smile than Oscar McInerney.
The heartbreak story of the premiership side due to an injured shoulder, McInerney thought his teammates would be sick of him, that is how much joyful energy he was projecting in the moments after missing out on a premiership medal.
If he was shattered, the big man didn’t show it.
“To be honest the adrenaline is overriding,” he said.
“It is crazy. I don’t know if it was because I didn’t use it all playing. The boys are probably sick of me.
“We came together eight years ago and this is what you strive for. I don’t know why your energy wouldn’t be electric.
“It is what you dream of. It is exactly what you dream of.”
For Darcy Fort, it truly was a dream grand final day.
Drafted into the side for the first time in five months to replace McInerney, he more than held his own in the early stages against Sydney star Brodie Grundy.
“My game is pretty simple, I am just trying to scrap and compete and bring it down to guys like Lachie (Neale),” Fort said.
“I had a few ones go my way early and he (Grundy) probably got on top a little bit as the game went on but we won so I have done my role.”
As he admitted to some bias, McInerney thought Fort did far more than play his role.
“He was incredible. I haven’t seen the Norm Smith (Medal) voting but I am a bit biased and I would have given him the two behind Will Ashcroft,” he said.
“He was incredible. We knew he was going to do something special, he is a competitor, a beast and he is the most professional at the club. He is an absolute star.
“To be honest, everyone was saying it was disappointing I was missing. There is no doubt, there is a chance I might not have been selected, that is how good his form was.”
Where McInerney thought his energy levels were “crazy”, Fort was in shock as he stood amongst his family.
“It is still disbelief. It has been a crazy week, crazy couple of months. Hope it sets in soon,” he said.
“From Monday onwards it was watching tape of Grundy, working with Huddo (Brisbane ruck coach Ben Hudson) and Big O (McInerney) and making sure I would be right to go this week.
“It is crazy. I have to say a big thankyou to my family, Jaz (fiancee Jasmine Weiss) and all the footy clubs I have been involved in.”
Fort has played with four VFL clubs, AFL clubs Geelong and Brisbane and SANFL club Central District on his way to an improbable premiership medal.
“My best asset these days is perspective. I just go out each week and know how lucky I am to be playing AFL and I just try and enjoy it as much as possible,” he said.
Even through some pain, McInerney declared he would enjoy the next few days alongside his mate Fort.
The two rucks went straight to each other at the final siren and embraced in an emotional moment.
“It just shows the man he is to be honest,” McInerney said of Fort.
“He is allowed to go celebrate with the boys and jump into the crowd. To show he thought of me was exceptional. I can’t put into words how generous that was.
“He has been incredible and I can’t wait to celebrate with him for the next couple of days.”
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