Dayne Zorko
Brisbane · “The Magician”
AFL career
321 games241 goals
- Debut
- R7 2012 v COL12 May 2012
- Most recent
- GF 2026 v FRE26 Sept 2026
Stats
2026 | BRL | 17 | 19.8 | 5.2 | 25.0 | 6.5 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 98 | 99 |
2025 | BRL | 27 | 21.1 | 5.2 | 26.3 | 6.9 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.7 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 104 | 104 |
2024 | BRL | 27 | 21.0 | 5.4 | 26.3 | 7.9 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 110 | 110 |
2023 | BRL | 20 | 13.6 | 5.3 | 18.9 | 5.9 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 3.6 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 84 | 83 |
2022 | BRL | 22 | 14.7 | 5.2 | 19.9 | 5.8 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 2.9 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 82 | 82 |
2021 | BRL | 23 | 16.8 | 7.3 | 24.1 | 5.3 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 6.1 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 107 | 106 |
2020 | BRL | 17 | 13.1 | 3.8 | 16.8 | 3.8 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 4.4 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 78 | 98 |
2019 | BRL | 24 | 16.8 | 5.5 | 22.3 | 3.9 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 6.7 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 104 | 106 |
2018 | BRL | 22 | 13.7 | 7.0 | 20.8 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 7.2 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 96 | 96 |
2017 | BRL | 21 | 16.2 | 8.8 | 25.0 | 3.8 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 7.0 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 114 | 111 |
2016 | BRL | 20 | 15.0 | 8.6 | 23.6 | 4.2 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 6.4 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 106 | 109 |
2015 | BRL | 22 | 13.6 | 9.3 | 23.0 | 4.5 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 3.9 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 90 | 101 |
2014 | BRL | 21 | 10.6 | 11.6 | 22.2 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 5.5 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 88 | 99 |
2013 | BRL | 22 | 8.8 | 6.3 | 15.1 | 2.6 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 5.3 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 74 | 83 |
2012 | BRL | 16 | 10.5 | 9.1 | 19.6 | 4.6 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 6.4 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 95 | 100 |
FRE | MCG | GF | 23 | 5 | 28 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0.0 | 134 | 121 | 0 | 8 |
HAW | MCG | PF | 17 | 4 | 21 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 69 | 71 | 0 | 4 |
ADE | Gabba | SF | 24 | 3 | 27 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1.0 | 113 | 103 | 0 | 6 |
SYD | SCG | FW1 | 19 | 7 | 26 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 90 | 105 | 0 | 4 |
COL | MCG | R24 | 15 | 6 | 21 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0.1 | 75 | 85 | 0 | 4 |
GCS | Gabba | R23 | 19 | 6 | 25 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1.0 | 113 | 128 | 0 | 6 |
HAW | Gabba | R22 | 23 | 2 | 25 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 97 | 92 | 0 | 5 |
PAD | Gabba | R20 | 27 | 7 | 34 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 130 | 123 | 0 | 5 |
WCE | OS | R19 | 13 | 2 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 54 | 83 | 0 | 4 |
ESS | Gabba | R18 | 20 | 12 | 32 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 95 | 94 | 0 | 4 |
CAR | Gabba | R9 | 16 | 3 | 19 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 76 | 86 | 0 | 5 |
ESS | MS | R8 | 21 | 6 | 27 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 123 | 108 | 0 | 7 |
NTH | BP | R5 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 29 | 36 | 0 | 3 |
COL | Gabba | R4 | 23 | 5 | 28 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1.0 | 116 | 111 | 0 | 2 |
STK | MS | R3 | 21 | 7 | 28 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 95 | 96 | 1 | 5 |
SYD | SCG | R1 | 24 | 6 | 30 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 121 | 102 | 0 | 6 |
WBD | Gabba | R0 | 24 | 7 | 31 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1.0 | 142 | 131 | 0 | 5 |
Bio
Dayne Zorko’s path to the AFL was defined by persistence, having been overlooked in four national drafts before finally receiving his opportunity as a mature-age recruit. A standout in the QAFL where he won four consecutive best and fairest awards for Broadbeach, he was eventually secured by Brisbane in 2011 via a trade with Gold Coast, who had access to him as a zone selection but opted to pass. Zorko wasted little time proving his doubters wrong, using his low centre of gravity, explosive speed, and manic defensive pressure to become an instant fixture in the Lions' lineup. Originally a high-impact small forward who could rotate through the midfield, he became the club's barometer for energy and intensity during a rebuilding era.
His individual excellence was recognised with five Merrett-Murray Medals, equalling the club record held by Michael Voss, highlighting his consistency while the team developed around him. Zorko assumed the captaincy in 2018, leading the club's resurgence from the bottom of the ladder to regular finals action under coach Chris Fagan. While his aggressive style and on-field chatter occasionally drew the ire of opponents, his leadership was instrumental in transforming the Lions' culture. In a remarkable late-career evolution, Zorko reinvented himself as a rebounding half-back in his mid-30s, earning All-Australian honours for a second time in 2024.
Profile
- Born
- 09 Feb 1989 (age 37y 254d)
- Birthplace
- Broadbeach, QLD
- Height
- 174 cm
- Weight
- 78 kg
Teams
Fantasy
Honours
- Premiership(3×) 2024, 2025, 2026
- All-Australian(2×) 2017, 2024
- Brisbane B&F(5×) 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021
- 2nd
- 2014, 2019, 2024
- Top 10
- 2012, 2013, 2020, 2025
- Brisbane Lions captain(5×) 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
- Brownlow Medal
- Top 10
- 2019
Bio
1 revisionDayne Zorko’s path to the AFL was defined by persistence, having been overlooked in four national drafts before finally receiving his opportunity as a mature-age recruit. A standout in the QAFL where he won four consecutive best and fairest awards for Broadbeach, he was eventually secured by Brisbane in 2011 via a trade with Gold Coast, who had access to him as a zone selection but opted to pass. Zorko wasted little time proving his doubters wrong, using his low centre of gravity, explosive speed, and manic defensive pressure to become an instant fixture in the Lions' lineup. Originally a high-impact small forward who could rotate through the midfield, he became the club's barometer for energy and intensity during a rebuilding era.
His individual excellence was recognised with five Merrett-Murray Medals, equalling the club record held by Michael Voss, highlighting his consistency while the team developed around him. Zorko assumed the captaincy in 2018, leading the club's resurgence from the bottom of the ladder to regular finals action under coach Chris Fagan. While his aggressive style and on-field chatter occasionally drew the ire of opponents, his leadership was instrumental in transforming the Lions' culture. In a remarkable late-career evolution, Zorko reinvented himself as a rebounding half-back in his mid-30s, earning All-Australian honours for a second time in 2024.