Brisbane coach Chris Fagan expects his under-fire skipper to deal with the inevitable backlash to his controversial sledge within the Lions’ knockout AFL final against Richmond.
Zorko’s management was questioned after his sledge of Harrison Petty introduced the Melbourne expertise to tears throughout the Demons’ large final-round victory.
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Zorko apologised and no additional motion was taken by the AFL, Fagan accepting his captain had erred regardless of being provoked.
“No leader is perfect,” Fagan told reporters on Wednesday.
“People make mistakes. We jump all over people now when they do. He apologised, which was what he should have done.
“Behind Michael Voss he’s probably been the most successful leader in terms of wins as captain and he’s done a mighty job at a time when our club was at a really low ebb.”
Fagan stated Zorko’s angle this week indicated he would give you the chance to wipe the incident from his thoughts, even when the Tigers had been eager to remind him of it.
“I don’t think so; I think he’s probably readying himself for that,” he stated when requested if Zorko could be anxious by any Richmond niggle.
“I would be if I was in his shoes. So would anybody else.
“That’s Richmond’s call. We’re just going to go out and play the footy, that’s the main thing to do in a final.”
Former teammate Dayne Beams was one who referred to as for Zorko to stand down within the aftermath of the sledge controversy.
“Really? You wondered what you said?” Beams wrote on social media.
“Embarrassing that he is still captain. Worst thing is I’m not even surprised.”
However later it was revealed that Zorko was additionally abused throughout the sport with one veteran commentator suggesting that Melbourne gamers attacked him with “pretty disgusting” stuff in regards to the girls in his life.
After the incident, Zorko told 7NEWS: “I want to send my remorse once again to Harrison Petty and his family.
“I guess there was a fair bit of sledging going both ways on the night.
“Unfortunately I crossed that line. There was plenty of moments where we were going right up to it, but I was the first one who overstepped it.”
