Brisbane forward Dayne Zorko takes the bull by the horns. Picture: Mark Calleja Source: Herald Sun
DAYNE Zorko's great rise at the Brisbane Lions just keeps getting better after the midfield revelation was elevated to the club's emerging leadership group.
Entering just his second AFL season, the nippy Zorko has been earmarked as a future leader by coach Michael Voss following a brilliant 2012 debut.
A mature-age recruit who feared he'd missed the boat after being overlooked at four AFL drafts due to his size at 175cm, the Gold Coast product made the most of his late chance at the Lions.
Brisbane tweaked their club champion rules for him to convincingly take their rookie of the year award after averaging 20 disposals in his 16 games.
Skipper Jonathan Brown even believes Zorko would have won the best-and-fairest too if not for missing the first six rounds with a hip injury.
Despite his AFL inexperience, Voss had little hesitation in naming Zorko with fellow rising stars Jack Redden, Pearce Hanley and Mitch Golby in his young leaders group.
The Lions appointed Jed Adcock as co-captain with Brown, while Tom Rockliff and Daniel Rich were named as deputies in a four-man 'captain's group'.
But within the process Voss named two small leadership groups of rising players and mentors, featuring Simon Black.
"It was a fantastic honour, really," Zorko said today. "I was really speechless when I got told and it was great to hear that's what my peers thought of me."
A dominant force in the NEAFL for Broadbeach until 18 months ago, Zorko admits he finds it hard to believe his Lions ascension after he was on-traded by the Gold Coast Suns for pick No.34 in the 2011 national draft.
Dayne Zorko attacks the football. Picture: Darren England Source: The Courier-Mail
Now he's doing his best to ensure he's no flash in the pan.
"I've spoken to Vossy and I've spoken to Daniel Rich about the second-year syndrome and I feel like I've worked a lot on that so I'll go out there and play my role in the team like I did last year," said Zorko, who turned 24 this month.
Brisbane is well poised to make the NAB Cup final after winning both their opening round matches against the Suns and Hawthorn last weekend.
The Lions meet the GWS Giants at Wagga on Saturday night where a win would set up a virtual grand final qualifier against Collingwood next week.
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