Dayne Zorko reveals physio secret that saved his career

Brisbane veteran Dayne Zorko has revealed a left-field approach to rehab “saved” his AFL career at a time when he feared he might have to call it quits.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 30: Dayne Zorko of the Lions runs with the ball during the 2023 AFL Grand Final match between Collingwood Magpies and Brisbane Lions at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on September 30, 2023, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Brisbane veteran Dayne Zorko has revealed a left-field approach to rehab “saved” his AFL career at a time when he feared he might have to call it quits.

The 34-year-old reported for pre-season on Monday the fittest he has been in years, thanks in large to the needling technique of a Brisbane physiotherapist that completely transformed his approach to training.

For years Zorko battled with soft tissue injuries that limited his ability to train during the week.

That frustrated the fiercely competitive Lions champion, who went searching for that “one-percenter” to save his career.

Zorko says he was on the cusp of retirement as he battled with niggling injuries a few years ago. (Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“I didn’t want to finish my career on the path it was going,” Zorko told this masthead.

“I wasn’t really able to train – and I’m someone who loves training.

“I have a specialist I work closely with, Jim Bostock, who has really helped my chronic Achilles issues over the past three to four seasons – he’s pretty much eradicated that for me now.

“It makes running a lot easier, which makes pre-season a lot easier. That’s what the whole of last pre-season was, was getting my body used to running at those big loads again.

“Fortunately Daniel Rich stumbled across Jim because he’s been able to help me significantly. He was a Godsend, really. He certainly saved my career.”

Zorko shed 9kg last off-season and entered the 2023 campaign supremely fit.

A mid-season calf issue cruelled some of his progress but he was able to return late in the year to become a key contributor in the Lions’ run to the grand final.

“I had that setback in the middle of the year which I think was because I had put my body through so much stress and effort to lose those kilos … thankfully I don’t need to do that this year,” Zorko said.

“I can just build off of what I did last pre-season and that’s an exciting position for me.”

Zorko says he has finally been able to come to terms with the agonising grand final defeat to Collingwood.

Though just four points separated the two teams at the final siren, he conceded the Magpies were “clearly the better team on the day”.

“And I can certainly live with that,” he said.

“They were just a far better team, but we hung in there and gave ourselves an opportunity to win and that’s something we’ve worked really hard to build within this group, is our resilience.

“We weren’t good enough but it certainly drives us to get better. When you sit on the ground watching those celebrations happen after the game, that spurs you on to want to get back to that moment.

“I’m sure that will fuel us over the pre-season and at different times in-season as well.”

Zorko is comforted by partner Talia De Marco after the siren at the 2023 AFL Grand Final. Picture Lachie Millard

There was speculation that if the Lions won the flag Zorko might have called time on his career. That despite the Lions champion declaring repeatedly throughout the finals series he wanted to go around again.

It took until the start of November for the club to announce a new one-year deal for its five-time best and fairest winner, but Zorko said it was always a matter of when, not if.

“The talks were always going to be at the end of the season – I was comfortable with that and so was my management and the club,” he said.

“Win, lose or draw I was always going to play on.

“We’ll wait and see what happens next year. I’ll still be putting my hand up – if I still feel I’m contributing to the team.

“My philosophy will stay the same until my body completely fails on me or I can’t compete at this level anymore.”

There is an expectation among AFL fans that the Lions will return to the pointy end of proceedings next season, with many anticipating an immediate return to the decider.

The bulk of Brisbane’s playing group is entering its prime and the entirety of the grand final team will return for next season.

Chris Fagan’s side will welcome back boom midfielder Will Ashcroft from an ACL injury and have former Crows defender Tom Doedee fit and firing for the finals home stretch.

On paper the Lions are better for the next go-around – but their draw is also considered among the most difficult in the competition.

“Externally everyone can talk about expectations and ‘oh, Brisbane made the grand final so they should get there again’ but it’s a bloody hard competition to win,” Zorko said.

“The season is bloody tough and it’s hard to win games. But ultimately if you want to win the premiership you have to beat any team, anywhere and at any time. That’s the mentality we’ve got.”

Zorko says he will put his hand up to keep playing so long as his body remains healthy and he feels he can compete at the level. (Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

First up for the Lions is a mouth-watering Opening Round blockbuster against Carlton at the Gabba on Friday, March 8.

Brisbane’s unbeaten Gabba record was put under the microscope by the Blues in their preliminary final encounter when Michael Voss’ side burst out of the blocks to take an early five-goal lead, before the Lions pegged them back.

Zorko hailed the AFL’s Opening Round concept as “an unbelievable opportunity for Queensland football” and welcomed the early litmus test.

“To get a team like Carlton to start the season up at the Gabba with their fan base is huge,” he said.

“We know their fans travel. We saw that in the preliminary final, it felt almost like an away game for us with how loud they were.

“No doubt it’s going to be a sellout and a blockbuster. That’s where our attention turns to now. Start the season well and go from there.”

Opening Round tickets go on pre-sale from 11am AEST on Friday via Ticketmaster.

Lions members need not purchase pre-sale tickets as they will be able to access their allotment in February.

Originally published as Dayne Zorko reveals physio secret that saved his career