Lions veteran Dayne Zorko might be set for an prolonged interval within the midfield towards the Gold Coast Suns on Saturday as Brisbane coach Chris Fagan considers his choices to fill the void left by the injured Will Ashcroft.
Ashcroft, who can be sidelined for not less than 9 months after rupturing the anterior cruciate in his proper knee in Brisbane’s 11-point win over Geelong final Saturday, has been changed within the Lions’ 22 by Kai Lohmann for the Heritage Bank Stadium battle.
It’s something however a like-for-like alternative, with Lohmann plying his commerce as a ahead.
However, the flexibility of a handful of Lions gamers, together with Zorko – who has spent most of this season within the ahead line regardless of making his identify as a midfielder in his youthful days – has Fagan assured of comfortably masking Ashcroft’s absence as Brisbane bids for a tenth successive QClash win.
“He (Lohmann) has been knocking on the door – we can use other players in our midfield to replace Will,” Fagan stated.
“(Hugh) McCluggage can play more minutes in there, Zorko can play in there. Cam Rayner can play in there, Jarrod Berry … can play in there, so we’ll sort through that, but we feel that Kai can help us up forward.”
Fagan has been happy with former captain Zorko’s enter since his latest return from a calf damage that sidelined him for 4 matches
“The best part for me about last week was his defensive pressure. It lifted last week and it has done with each game that he’s played,” the Lions coach stated.
“He’s a terrific all-round footballer but when he’s gone really well, that’s his ‘one-wood’. It’s pleasing to see that’s returning.
“Now after three weeks of playing AFL footy, he’s ready to step up and play a bit more time in the midfield.
“I’m confident that he will be able to do that, and I think he is as well.”
The anticipated return of the versatile Zac Bailey from a calf damage subsequent week towards Fremantle may even give Fagan one other midfield choice to fill the void left by Ashcroft’s misfortune.
Fagan stated Ashcroft was because of have knee surgical procedure subsequent week, having needed to await swelling to cut back.
“He’s obviously incredibly disappointed, He was having such a great season and probably at that point where he was starting to look forward to playing in finals, but it’s not to be,” the Lions coach stated.
“I guess the good part is that he didn’t do it at the start of the season and then miss 22 games.
“He got to play 18 and he’s got the summer to repair, so he’ll be back sometime around the middle of next year, maybe a little bit earlier, so there’s a positive there, but he and his family are hurting this week and we are there for him.”
Originally revealed as Dayne Zorko set to full Brisbane midfield gap left after damage to Will Ashcroft
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
