Zorko savors Lions win. By Peter Blucher.
Dayne Zorko sang the Brisbane Lions song with extra gusto on Sunday, celebrating his first win as captain in exuberant fashion.
Deputising for the injured Tom Rockliff, Zorko had 22 possessions, 10 tackles and a goal as the Lions beat the Gold Coast Suns by 13 points at the Gabba.
He was desperate to ensure there would be no repeat of his first and only other time as acting captain, when the Lions copped a 79-point hiding from Richmond at the Gabba in Round 3 last year.
Zorko’s tackle count was equal third best in QClash history, behind only Jaeger O’Meara’s 13 tackles in 2014 and Mitch Robinson’s 11 tackles last year, and was indicative of the pocked-sized midfielder’s commitment to see his side post their first win of the season.
He was among the Lions best in their come-from-behind win, sharing top Queensland billing in Round 4 of the Toyota AFL Premiership with Melbourne rookie Josh Wagner, who had 24 possessions in his second game (see separate story).
It was also a memorable day for fellow Queenslanders Tom Bell, Harris Andrews and Liam Dawson, who was a late inclusion for Dan McStay (illness).
Bell, who had 16 possessions and kicked two goals, celebrated his first win in Lions colors, and Andrews (12 possessions) and Dawson (17 possessions) enjoyed their first QClash win.
In other noteworthy Queensland performances from Round 4:-
- David Armitage had 35 possessions for St.Kilda against Hawthorn. It was his 12th career game of 30 possessions or more after he had eight in a breakout 2015 season. Among Queenslanders, only Dayne Beams (45), Michael Voss (24), Marcus Ashcroft (17) and Scott McIvor (14) have had more.
- Kurt Tippett had a career-high 35 ruck hitouts to go with 13 possessions and two goals for Sydney in his first game against former club Adelaide in Adelaide.
- Jarrod Harbrow was left alone at the top of the QClash games list. The Gold Coast veteran is the only player to have played in all 11 QClashes.
- Lachie Weller had an equal career-best 15 possessions for Fremantle against North Melbourne in his 7th AFL game.
- Zac Smith took a Mark of the Week contender for Geelong against Essendon.
- Jesse White played his 1st AFL game of the year for Collingwood after receiving a late call-up from the emergency list. He had 12 possessions.
