Brisbane captain Dayne Zorko’s comments about a family member of Melbourne’s Harrison Petty, which left the defender distressed on the field, were a line in the sand moment, according to Demons skipper Max Gawn.
Zorko sledged Petty during the round 23 match, bringing Petty to tears in the three-quarter time huddle where he was consoled by teammates, senior coach Simon Goodwin and defensive coach Troy Chaplin.
A personal Dayne Zorko sledge reduced Harrison Petty to tears.Credit:Getty Images
The Lions and Zorko unreservedly apologised for the comments and behaviour afterwards and Melbourne were content to leave the matter there. The AFL took no action.
“I don’t think we necessarily needed those comments for it to be a line in the sand. It’s pretty clear to me going out for games that some of that stuff is off limits but definitely now the comments are done that it is a line in the sand and those sort of comments can stay away from footy,” Gawn said.
“It’s the first time I have heard something that deep. I am not here to talk about it and go on about it and bring it up. I think it has been well-handled post, but it is certainly rare.”
Gawn said more importantly, Petty had returned to the club happy and was keen to move on. He also reaffirmed at the support given by his teammates to the defender.
Premiership skipper Max Gawn.Credit:AFL Photos
“That’s not my space [to say if an apology without punishment was sufficient]. There was an apology, it read well, the apology, and Harrison has taken the apology and has come in happy today and that is all that matters – that Harrison has come in with a big smile on his face.”
Melbourne enter the finals in second place, taking on Sydney, who narrowly defeated the Demons in round 12 and a close result last year.
They also enter the finals with last year’s Norm Smith medallist Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver both among the Brownlow favourites. Oliver could scarcely be less interested.
“Nah, I don’t buy into it. It’s just not me. Doesn’t interest me [thinking about it],” Oliver said.
“I hate talking in front of people so I don’t really want it to happen. I don’t like it. Nah, Lachie Neale, Paddy Cripps, ‘Trac’ [Petracca]. I don’t know who wins it. Oh, no look it’s an honour to win one, but you don’t play football for those awards. At the moment I am more worried about the finals.”
Demons midfielder Clayton Oliver is one of the Brownlow favourites.Credit:Michael Willson/Getty Images
Gawn said the win over Fremantle in round 22 had been a turning point for his team, and the Demons had rediscovered their ruthlessness since then.
“When we were sitting 9-0, 10-0 and people were talking about that perfect season, you just know these challenges are going to come – Collingwood [on] Queen’s Birthday, Sydney at the ’G – these games come and it’s about how we face that and we needed to find that ruthlessness. I think the Freo game personally was the turning point,” he said.
“We went over to hostile territory and against a side that had touched us up at the ’G not long before that game and we won by like 50-60 points playing some really good forward-half footy. That was post the Western Bulldogs loss which I really didn’t like, the Carlton game, Collingwood game looked good the way we wanted to play. In both those games we were off in the last quarters and lucky to get over the line against Carlton and then the Brisbane game capped it off. That’s that ruthless sort of edge.”
Gawn refused to discuss his recent meeting with Collingwood ruckman Brodie Grundy about a possible trade to the Demons.
Brodie Grundy met with the Demons about a possible trade Credit:AFL Photos
“When I casually saw Brodie walking down the street and we had a coffee? It was good,” Gawn said, tongue in cheek.
“At the moment I am worried about rucking with Luke Jackson. He still has a Melbourne jumper on and I am not going to entertain those conversations because I feel like I have got a chance to go somewhere pretty special with Luke this year.
“I talk to Luke, but Luke plays his best footy when he just thinks about the game and right now, selfishly, I just want Luke to be playing his best footy to get us towards the pointy end.”
Premiership key forward Tom McDonald is ready to return to the VFL from injury this week in the qualifying final as he makes a push to be fit and back in the team for the Demons’ finals campaign after the bye.
“I have never seen someone who knows his injuries better. If he thinks he is OK to go, which is what he is telling me – I have seen him when he has said he is not OK as well – [then he is OK to go],” Gawn said.
“He is feeling fresh. Another session on Thursday then hopefully a qualifying final in VFL which is pretty hot intensity straight up, so see how he goes.”
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