Demons star Max Gawn never wants to hear another sledge like Dayne Zorko’s remark to Harrison Petty

Demons star Max Gawn reveals Dayne Zorko’s sledge against Harrison Petty was so bad he NEVER wants to hear anything like it on a footy field again

  • Max Gawn believes Dayne Zorko’s sledge needs to be a ‘line in the sand’ moment
  • Lions captain Zorko allegedly uttered ‘I hope your mum dies’ to Harrison Petty
  • Vicious sledge rattled Petty, who was visibly upset in Demons win over Lions 
  • Zorko apologised post-game, is free to play in elimination final versus Richmond 

Demons captain Max Gawn has revealed the sledge Lions skipper Dayne Zorko aimed at Harrison Petty was so vicious he never wants to hear anything like it ever again during a game.

Without revealing exactly what was said, Gawn, 30, hopes it can be a ‘line in the sand moment’ for the AFL.

‘Those sort of comments can stay away from footy,’ the 2021 premiership winner said.

‘It’s the first time I have heard something that deep. I think it has been well-handled, but it is certainly rare.’

Earlier this week, the Herald Sun reported Zorko’s sledge was along the lines of, ‘I hope your mother dies.’

The slur left Petty visibly upset, and he was consoled by teammates, senior coach Simon Goodwin and defensive coach Troy Chaplin at three-quarter time.

Demons captain Max Gawn (pictured) has revealed the sledge from Lions skipper Dayne Zorko aimed at Harrison Petty was so vicious he never wants to hear anything like it ever again

Harrison Petty was reduced to tears after Zorko allegedly told him 'I hope your mother dies' last Friday in tense scenes

Harrison Petty was reduced to tears after Zorko allegedly told him ‘I hope your mother dies’ last Friday in tense scenes

Zorko later acknowledged he crossed the line and apologised to petty, leaving him free to play in next Thursday's elimination semi-final versus Richmond at the Gabba

Zorko later acknowledged he crossed the line and apologised to petty, leaving him free to play in next Thursday’s elimination semi-final versus Richmond at the Gabba

Petty also started the fourth quarter last Friday at the Gabba on the bench before eventually composing himself.

Post game, the Lions – and Zorko – apologised and the Demons were prepared to close the matter.

The AFL also took no action, with Zorko – who is known for his on-field niggle – free to play in next Thursday night’s elimination semi-final versus Richmond.

And in a move which stunned many footy fans, Lions boss Danny Daly this week publicly declared Zorko’s wellbeing was the club’s focus.

Many supporters felt the Lions were painting Zorko as the victim rather than the aggressor.

‘He’s quite sorry and still emotional about it all,’ Daly said.

Daly later told SEN radio that the club addressed the issue and were keen to move on, with finals footy looming.

The Demons star started the fourth quarter on the bench as he dealt with the emotions surrounding Zorko's vicious slur

The Demons star started the fourth quarter on the bench as he dealt with the emotions surrounding Zorko’s vicious slur

Footy fans slammed Brisbane Lions boss Danny Daly online this week after he defended Dayne Zorko following his below the belt sledge aimed at Melbourne Demons star Harrison Petty

Footy fans slammed Brisbane Lions boss Danny Daly online this week after he defended Dayne Zorko following his below the belt sledge aimed at Melbourne Demons star Harrison Petty

‘The club made a statement (last Saturday) and that’s where it sits,’ he added.

‘To be perfectly honest, our goal right now is to make sure Dayne is okay from a mental health perspective. That’s what we need to do as a football club.’

There have been calls by many in footy to strip Zorko of the Brisbane captaincy, and the Lions star also disabled his Instagram in the wake of the controversy.

It isn’t the first time Zorko has faced the wrath of footy fans for his playing style.

Zorko took over as Lions skipper in 2018 after previous captain Dayne Beams stepped down following a controversy of his own.

He was blasted just months after moving into the role, with AFL legend Tim Watson slamming his ‘terrible leadership’ after a continual run-in with Gold Coast tagger Touk Miller.

On multiple occasions Zorko either refused to shake Miller’s hand, did so sarcastically or abused him both during and after the game.

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