‘You deserve this more than anyone’: Selfless coach makes good on two-year promise with beautiful act
We’ve seen some lovely moments on the AFL premiership dais over the years.
And Chris Fagan’s determination for loyal veteran Lion Dayne Zorko to lift the cup on Saturday afternoon was right up there.
The Lions on Saturday completed a remarkable journey of resilience, thumping the Swans by 60 points in a comprehensive Grand Final performance.
It was the culmination of years of just falling short, with Saturday’s win coming in Brisbane’s sixth consecutive finals campaign.
Before that finals run, the Lions had five straight bottom-four finishes in the mid-2010s.
And Zorko has been there all the way — through both good times and bad. In fact he was captain for five seasons between 2018 and 2022.
Triple Lions premiership coach Leigh Matthews on Saturday was about to present the 2024 cup to Fagan, as well as Lions co-captains Lachie Neale and Harris Andrews.
But in a beautiful act of selflessness, Fagan called Zorko up to the stage so he could lift the cup with Neale and Andrews.
“Me and Fages came on this journey… we experienced the lows and the highs (together),” Zorko told 3AW post-match.
“Fages came up to me and said: ‘You’re going up on stage, and you deserve this more than anyone.
“I’m so honoured that he allowed me to get up there and hold the cup with those two absolute legends (Lachie Neale and Harris Andrews).
“He actually promised me about two years ago when I handed the captaincy over and said ‘if we ever win it, you’ll be the first person up there’. He stuck by his word on that, and that’s the sort of guy he is.”
An emotional Zorko received one of the biggest cheers from Brisbane fans when his name was called to accept his premiership medallion. He responded by lifting both arms into the air then pumping his fist.
The 35-year-old, prior to Saturday’s premiership victory, was already a Lions great with five club best and fairests and two All-Australian blazers to his name.
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