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Former players and experts are STUNNED as Dayne Zorko gets off scot-free from the judiciary after his disgraceful sledge against Harrison Petty’s family
- The Brisbane Lions skipper sledged Petty and reduced him to tears on the field
- He later publicly apologised for what was said and his actions on Friday night
- Both Brisbane and Melbourne are happy to let the incident be over after that
- However AFL fans and pundits are shocked Zorko has not been punished
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Fans and analysts have slammed the lack of action coming out of the Brisbane Lions and AFL HQ following the Dayne Zorko sledging incident on Friday night.
The Lions skipper had words with Melbourne’s Harrison Petty that reduced him to tears and later apologised.
But neither the club nor the AFL have revealed any sanctions, penalties or fines to be issued to Zorko which has angered many.
Zorko has been heavily criticised for his actions that resulted in the Lions skipper making a public apology to Harrison Petty
Brisbane football boss Danny Daly said that Zorko’s mental health is the primary concern right now.
‘The club addressed the issue with Melbourne on Friday night straight after the game, the club made a statement on Saturday morning and that’s where it sits,’ Daly told SENQ Mornings.
‘To be perfectly honest from a club perspective, our goal right now is to make sure Dayne’s OK from a mental health perspective. He’s spent a weekend at home on his own with his partner working through it, but from a club perspective, we’ve put it to bed and Melbourne accepted our apology on Saturday and that’s where it lies.
‘That’s all we’ve done, it hasn’t gone any higher at this stage. Everyone had the weekend off, returned to work today and see what today brings for us.’
Petty was visibly upset on the field and needed to be consoled by his coach and teammates
AFL 360 co-host Mark Robinson said that response was not enough.
‘What was said … to say that to another person on the footy field, certainly in any environment, is very odd,’ he said.
‘For not to be punished by it, to not give him a fine or do something, I find that really strange that there’s no punishment except for the shame and embarrassment.’
‘That may be a punishment enough, I don’t know, but my god.’
Fans have also taken to social media to ask why Zorko has not been punished for his actions.
‘Can somebody please explain how Dayne Zorko has suddenly become the victim in all of this?’ one fan Tweeted.
‘Reckon the Lions have misread the room on the Dayne Zorko sledge and subsequent handling. This is a low bar we’re setting for vile sledges on the footy field, and the fact he is a club captain only ensures that bar will remain low. We need to do better,’ another said.
Premiership-winning Hawthorn Hawk Xavier Ellis said the lack of action against Zorko was a bad look for the game overall.
‘How the AFL just let two clubs shake hands on that incident, I can’t work that out,’ Ellis told The West Australian’s ‘Hard Ball Gets’ podcast.
‘When are we starting to agree on clubs sorting it out?’
However former Brisbane Lions skipper Jonathan Brown said Zorko’s apology was enough.
‘I don’t think we should be assassinating Dayne Zorko’s character,’ brown told Fox Footy’s On The Couch.
‘I think we should separate the captaincy conversation to other parts – whether that be his age or some of his carry-on during the game – but he’s been a great player for that football club, he’s a good fella, he’s got high level of character. He just got carried away the other night and unfortunately let himself down.’