Former Brisbane Lions captain Dayne Zorko has lifted the lid on the turning point that sparked the club's 2024 AFL premiership victory, after a resounding 60-point triumph over Sydney at the MCG.
In a post-match interview with 3AW, Zorko shared a key moment from mid-season when he and senior players, including Joe Daniher and Ryan Lester, contemplated a different direction for the team.
"I'll let you in on a little secret," Zorko began.
"At round 12, myself, Joe, and Ryan Lester sat down with Harris Andrews and we said: 'Might be time we start playing the kids, we might have to turn to next year.'"
Zorko explained that the team had faced a rough patch and considered shifting focus to the following season. However, the leadership group, along with coach Chris Fagan, decided to stick together and find a way forward.
"If that's the case, it's been fun," Zorko recalled thinking at the time. "But we came up with a real clear plan that day that we weren't going to go down that path. There was still so much football to go."
What followed was a remarkable turnaround. Zorko revealed that for the next 14 weeks, the leadership group, with the addition of Josh Dunkley, regularly met to assess their performance and strengthen their resolve.
"Every week for the last 14 weeks, we've caught up as a group... and we just talked through everything. We really wanted to make a difference and impact this season."
That difference was clear in the grand final, as the Lions stormed to victory, claiming their first premiership in 21 years. Zorko, who captained Brisbane from 2018 to 2022, was a central figure throughout the Lions' rebuild and reflected on how far the club had come during his time.
"I was captain of this football club for four-and-a-half years, experienced the lows and the highs," Zorko said.
"We had some really tough times at the club when I first got drafted; just missed finals in my first year, then Vossy [Michael Voss] got sacked... and then we went on a real lean period, I think we won about 13 games out of 72."
As the Lions celebrated on stage, Zorko was given a special honour by his long-time coach, Chris Fagan. Despite stepping down from the captaincy two years ago, Zorko was invited to join co-captains Harris Andrews and Lachie Neale to lift the premiership cup.
"Fages comes to me and says, 'You're going up on stage and you deserve this more than anyone,'" Zorko shared with emotion.
"He actually promised me about two years ago when I handed the captaincy over, he said 'if we ever win it, you'll be the first one up there.' He stuck by his word on that, and that's the sort of guy he is."
The moment was a fitting tribute to Zorko's enduring influence on the club, and the veteran Lion expressed his gratitude for being included in the historic moment.
"I'm so honoured that he allowed me to get up there and hold the cup with those two absolute legends."
For Zorko, this premiership win marked not only the culmination of a career defined by resilience but also the fulfilment of a lifelong dream. With five club best and fairest awards and now an AFL premiership medallion, Zorko's legacy at the Lions is well and truly cemented.
