Eager Brisbane Lions star Dayne Zorko to miss fourth successive game

The Lions will resist the temptation to select Dayne Zorko for Thursday night’s Gabba battle with Richmond.

Lions veteran Dayne Zorko will miss another match. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

Dayne Zorko will miss another match for the Lions, with Brisbane coach Chris Fagan taking a cautious approach to the veteran’s return from a calf injury.

Fagan said the former Brisbane skipper was fit enough to play against Richmond at the Gabba on Thursday night.

However, 34-year-old Zorko’s absence is set to stretch to a fourth successive game despite his eagerness to return against the Tigers.

“He’s fit to play, and he’s chomping at the bit to play, but I think we’ll give him another week (off) at this point in time,” Fagan said on Wednesday.

“He’s a really important player to us. We just want to make sure he’s right because he’s been on that merry-go-round of soft tissue injuries this year.

“He trained really well (on Tuesday) and he’s absolutely keen, but it’s common sense to prevail at this point in time.

“Nobody loves to pay more than ‘Zorks’, but it’s a long year and we need to make sure that he’s right to go.”

Dayne Zorko will be sidelined for another week. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

Fagan said Zorko would have “probably” played had it been later in the season.

“It’s more about looking after him, and the added bonus is that other players do get an opportunity to play,” Fagan said.

Those others include emerging talent Jaspa Fletcher, who has been chosen for a third successive match.

“They’ve all had positive impacts since they’ve been in the team and we’re happy with their progress,” Fagan said of Fletcher and Kai Lohmann despite Lohmann’s omission this week.

“Every game for them at this young age is an absolute bonus. We’ve learned over the last few weeks that we’ve got a couple of other guys who can step up.”

Fagan said high-profile pair Daniel Rich and Jack Gunston, who were dropped after Brisbane’s June 10 loss to Hawthorn, were “flying” at training.

“Their bodies are feeling good, they’ve got energy, and they can’t wait to play. That’s what we wanted to get them to, so sometime over the next few weeks they’ll be reintroduced to playing,” the Lions coach said.

Former Hawks stat Gunston has been included among the emergencies for Thursday night’s match, while the experienced Callum Ah Chee has been elevated to the top 22.

Fagan expected a tough night against the Tigers, who won three successive matches before having a bye last weekend.

The teams will meet for the first time since last year’s finals meeting at the Gabba, where the Lions won a thriller by two points to end Richmond’s 2022 season.

“There’s a good rivalry building there. We’ve had some great games, the final here last year being the last one that we played. with a little bit of controversy, but one of the great finals,” Fagan said.

“We’re aware that their form is very good, and they’ve been clearly over the last eight years one of the best teams in the competition, and they’re building.

“They’ve got to win to keep pushing for a finals berth, and we’ve got to win to keep pushing for that top two if we can.”

Originally published as Eager Brisbane Lions star Dayne Zorko to miss fourth successive game