Mum speaks out over disgusting AFL sledging scandal rumour

As the AFL’s sledging scandal continues to swirl, the mum at the centre of the controversy has spoken publicly for the first time.

An incident involving Brisbane captain Dayne Zorko and Melbourne defender Harrison Petty is set to be investigated by the AFL following the Demons’ big win on Friday night. Picture 7News,

The mum of Harrison Petty has spoken publicly to deny a disgusting rumour that has swirled since the AFL’s sledging storm erupted.

The AFL community was left in shock last Friday night when the Demons’ win over Brisbane was marred by the distressing scenes of Petty in tears at three-quarter time.

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

Veteran football journalist Mark Robinson told Fox Footy’s AFL 360 this week: “The sledge by Dayne Zorko to Harrison Petty was something like this, ‘I hope your mother dies’”.

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Speculation ran rampant about the motivation behind the sledge with some suggestions it was a targeted barb around the health of Petty’s mum.

However, Petty’s mum Karen has now spoken out to rubbish the rumours surrounding her health.

The footballer’s parents, Karen and Simon, have both told The Daily Mail there is no truth to the swirling speculation.

“That’s all rumours... I don’t have cancer,” she said.

Harrison Petty seen upset on the bench. Photo: Channel 7.

Simon also said: “My wife’s not ill”.

Petty’s sister Hannah, co-captain of the Adelaide Thunderbirds in the Super Netball league, was also dragged into the storm when nasty rumours were spread online that the sledge was targeted at her. Those rumours were immediately shut down.

The revelations came on the same day the pendulum swung in the ongoing scandal with news that “disgusting” things were said to provoke Zorko before his ugly comments to Petty.

Zorko on Wednesday publicly addressed his on-field sledge, suggesting it wasn’t unprovoked.

There has since been a call for the AFL to re-open its investigation with veteran journalist Caroline Wilson reporting at least one Demons player crossed the line with things said to Zorko.

Zorko said sorry to Petty straight after the game and the Demons defender accepted his apology.

Harrison Petty with his parents. Photo: Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RostrevorCollege/

The Lions have not punished Zorko, with both Melbourne and Brisbane keen to move on from the ugly incident.

Wilson reported on Channel 9’s Footy Classified on Wednesday night that both clubs and the AFL were happy to move on from the incident without any disciplinary action being taken because both teams had acted in an unsavoury manner.

Wilson said the AFL should consider investigating what was said to Zorko as she revealed one comment made was of a personal nature about the women in the 34-year-old’s life.

“I’m told that some of the stuff said to Zorko — and he gives as good as he gets, he’s a famous sledger — was pretty disgusting,” she said.

“If you were going to investigate what was said, you’d be more investigating what was said to Zorko about women in his life [that was] far worse than what was said to Petty.”

She said the AFL was “very happy” for the scandal to simply “go away”.

“The AFL got involved and dropped this case like a hot potato by the weekend,” Wilson said. “Melbourne were very, very keen for it to go away as well and both clubs said they were happy with the way it was handled. There was a big call from within some media circles to go on with it.

“It was a terrible thing to say, but I don’t think there was any personal issue with Petty and his mother. It was just a terrible thing to say.”

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

She said comments made by Demons ruckman Max Gawn days after the incident were out of line because both clubs had crossed the line.

Gawn said this week Zorko’s sledge was “the first time I have heard anything that deep”.

Wilson said in response: “Max is right he (Zorko) crossed the line, but the Melbourne players crossed the line too.

“What was said was pretty disgusting and let’s not think Dayne Zorko is one out on this.”

There have been persistent calls for Zorko to be stripped of the Lions’ captaincy, while the footy world has been astonished he hasn’t been penalised by Brisbane or the AFL.

Commentators urged the AFL to suspend Zorko but he is free to play in Brisbane’s elimination final against Richmond next Thursday.

Originally published as Mum speaks out over disgusting AFL sledging scandal rumour