- Calls for Brisbane star to be banned for ugly act
Footy fans are demanding the AFL punish Dayne Zorko after the Lions star appeared to attack the face of Collingwood’s Mason Cox during Saturday night’s thrilling preliminary final.
Brisbane will play in their third straight AFL season decider after a massive second half set them up for their 29-point preliminary final defeat of Collingwood.
There was a controversial moment early on after Cox ran at Zorko after slotting home the very first goal of the game.
The Lions veteran responded to the move by grabbing the big man’s jersey and swiping his $3000 glasses off with his hand.
‘Zorko tried to take the glasses off,’ said Channel 7 commentator Brian Taylor.
‘Look at that. He’s had a go at them and tried to peel them off.’
Dayne Zorko appeared to attack the face of Collingwood’s Mason Cox during Saturday night’s thrilling preliminary final
Luke Hodge remarked that Cox should have been awarded a free kick.
‘You can’t do that, it’s the same as ripping off someone’s head-band,’ he said.
In 2023, a similar incident occurred when Ben Keays pulled off Cox’s protective eyewear.
Cox has been wearing the protective eyewear since 2022 following multiple surgeries on his eyes to combat a condition that threatened to end his playing career.
The American discovered he had detached retinas in both eyes after getting poked in the eyeball in 2019 and going in for an operation.
More than a few fans believe that Zorko should be punished in a similar fashion to Keays.
‘Should get a week,’ posted one X user.
‘Zorko should be suspended for that. Seriously,’ replied another.
In 2023, a similar incident occurred when Ben Keays pulled off Cox’s protective eyewear
Footy fans are calling for the league to come down on Zorko over the incident
‘Pretty dirty knowing what Cox had to deal with with his eyes,’ said a third.
Having dominated the first quarter, Brisbane were in major trouble at halftime after Collingwood kicked six goals to none in the second term for a 13-point lead.
But the Lions went on a three-goal burst in five minutes at the start of the third quarter that wrested the momentum back.
Brisbane kicked 11 goals to four in the second half, with Collingwood unable to rally enough despite Elliott providing the highlight of the game in the third term with a soaring mark over Starcevich before kicking the goal.
