A “pop” in Dayne Zorko’s calf is the Brisbane Lions captain’s latest injury concern, while AFL rivals also have concerns about Jarrod Berry’s troublesome shoulder following a courageous comeback victory in their season opener against Port Adelaide.
Zorko and Berry were both victims in the second half as the Lions climbed 24 points behind to win by 11 at Gabba on Saturday night.
The captain missed his side pre-season games after surgery on his Achilles after struggling with injuries in the last two years.
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But Chris Fagan said his injury was not caused by a premature return, rather a contact injury in which what both coaches agreed to was a “brutal” competition.
“He was good to go … he felt something in the back of his calf area,” the Lions coach said.
“His Achilles is good and he has strength. There is a small theory that is currently floating around that where he had the small procedure, that could be some scar tissue that was moving.
“We’ll wait and see, because sometimes these things can get bigger the next day and we really don’t know until early in the week.”
Zorko, who was used less in midfield and more in the half-forward line last season, started the game in the half and, like most of his teammates, showed a lot of rust.
“I just hope more than anything that we see if he can play a little half-back this year and that the injury is not too serious,” said Fagan.
The coach was unaware of the extent of Berry’s complaint, but his late retirement is a concern as he was cut off from shoulder problems in a disjointed 11-game 2021 season.
Veteran All-Australian defender Daniel Rich had straps applied around his hips.
Noah Answerth and Cameron Rayner both survived in their comebacks from injury, Rayner showed strength flashes around the competition and Answerth was strong in defense in a tense second half.
Not much was right for a sloppy Brisbane, but behind fit-again midfielders Lachie Neale (31 goals) and Joe Daniher (four goals) they found enough to take advantage of a fifth straight victory over last season’s provisional finalists.
Injuries had bitten Brisbane in final losses to Melbourne and Western Bulldogs last season.
“It has been a focus … how can we handle a little bit of disadvantage?” Fagan said.
“It was good tonight; we may have been a bit ripe over the summer.
“To be close to four goals against a quality team … I do not know in my time whether we were in that situation and come back to win.”
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