AFL fans are calling for the league to come down hard on Dayne Zorko after the Brisbane Lions star appeared to intentionally attack the face and glasses of Collingwood’s Mason Cox in Saturday night’s preliminary final. There was a fiery moment after the very first goal of the game at the MCG when Cox got in Zorko’s face after slotting a major.
Cox was keen to let Zorko know about it, and the Lions veteran responded by grabbing at Cox’s face and dragging his goggles off. “Zorko tried to take the glasses off,” Brian Taylor said in commentary for Channel 7. “Look at that. He’s had a go at them and tried to peel them off.”
Eddie McGuire (L) has previously blasted the kind of thing Dayne Zorko (far right) did against Collingwood. Image: Getty
Luke Hodge said the Pies should have been awarded a free kick and Cox given a second shot at goal. “You can’t do that, it’s the same as ripping off someone’s head-band,” he said.
It was reminiscent of an incident in 2023 when Crows player Ben Keays was fined $1500 for ripping Cox’s glasses off. The American wears the protective goggles for safety reasons and previously revealed he could be permanently blinded if he receives a poke in the eye or heavy knock.
The AFL took a dim view of Keays’ actions at the time, and former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire revealed on the eve of this year’s finals series that a memo had been sent around to all clubs that similar actions won’t be tolerated. “Collingwood have spoken to the umpires,” McGuire revealed. “The code of conduct (forbids it) and there’s a memo that’s gone out. Everyone will be watching the umpires about the way they (opposition teams) go after Mason Cox.”
Dayne Zorko appeared to intentionally rip Mason Cox’s glasses off. Image: Getty
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Eddie McGuire had blasted treatment of Mason Cox
McGuire blasted Keays’ actions back in 2023, saying: “Keays will (only) get a fine because somebody equated it to ripping off a head-band. Hardly (fair), if you were walking down the street and somebody has got glasses on and you jump up, grab their glasses and throw them…
“What would have happened if he had jumped up and poked him in the eye and he went blind? His career is over and he’s blind for life. How do you reckon that would go down? We would be stringing this guy up, not laughing.
“His eyes have been targeted over the years. I thought it was really, really ordinary, the whole thing. If (Cox) could wear contact lenses he would, but he needs the protection of his eyes. I just thought it was pretty ordinary to be perfectly honest that that happened and I think we have got to get past this whole thing with Mason Cox that he is just an oddity. He’s a serious footballer, he’s come back from adversity. Don’t go near people’s eyes is what I’m saying.”
On Saturday, fans suggested Zorko should receive a suspension and be rubbed out of next week’s grand final. One person wrote: “Zorko should be suspended for that. Seriously.” Another commented: “That is farcical!!! Give him a week.”
While a third added: “People will laugh about this but messing with someone’s piece of protective equipment is gross. Zorko should and will be fined.”
Lachie Neale and Jarrod Berry boost for Brisbane
The AFL appears unlikely to suspend Zorko over the incident, with a more likely punishment being a fine. Meanwhile, the Lions have received a huge boost with Lachie Neale declaring himself fit to play in the grand final against Geelong.
Jarrod Berry has stated he’ll strap up his shoulder and play next Saturday, and might not even bother getting scans after another dislocation. And Neale has revealed he got through an intense session on Saturday afternoon and believes he can return from a calf injury.
“I’ve ticked every box so far I’ve had to. I will train as normal next week,” Neale said. “I tested that (speed) today and it went really well. Hopefully Fages (coach Chris Fagan) picks me. It is exciting … but there are still a couple of hoops to jump through and I have to get the old boy to pick me, too. So I have to get in his ear pretty early in the week.”
Fagan said the club’s medical staff would make a “sensible” decision about whether he plays against Geelong. “We’ll see how he goes – I didn’t think he’d be a chance to play, but I think he is a chance to play,” the coach said. “If it’s too risky, it won’t happen.”
with AAP