AFL 2023: Dayne Zorko set to full Brisbane midfield hole after Will Ashcroft injury

Lions veteran Dayne Zorko could be set for an extended period in the midfield against the Gold Coast Suns on Saturday as Brisbane coach Chris Fagan considers his options to fill the void left by the injured Will Ashcroft.

Ashcroft, who will be sidelined for at least nine months after rupturing the anterior cruciate in his right knee in Brisbane’s 11-point win over Geelong last Saturday, has been replaced in the Lions’ 22 by Kai Lohmann for the Heritage Bank Stadium battle.

It’s anything but a like-for-like replacement, with Lohmann plying his trade as a forward.

However, the versatility of a handful of Lions players, including Zorko – who has spent most of this season in the forward line despite making his name as a midfielder in his younger days – has Fagan confident of comfortably covering Ashcroft’s absence as Brisbane bids for a 10th successive QClash win.

“He (Lohmann) has been knocking on the door – we can use other players in our midfield to replace Will,” Fagan said.

“(Hugh) McCluggage can play more minutes in there, Zorko can play in there. Cam Rayner can play in there, Jarrod Berry … can play in there, so we’ll sort through that, but we feel that Kai can help us up forward.”

Fagan has been pleased with former captain Zorko’s input since his recent return from a calf injury that sidelined him for four matches

“The best part for me about last week was his defensive pressure. It lifted last week and it has done with each game that he’s played,” the Lions coach said.

“He’s a terrific all-round footballer but when he’s gone really well, that’s his ‘one-wood’. It’s pleasing to see that’s returning.

“Now after three weeks of playing AFL footy, he’s ready to step up and play a bit more time in the midfield.

“I’m confident that he will be able to do that, and I think he is as well.”

The expected return of the versatile Zac Bailey from a calf injury next week against Fremantle will also give Fagan another midfield option to fill the void left by Ashcroft’s misfortune.

Fagan said Ashcroft was due to have knee surgery next week, having had to wait for swelling to reduce.

“He’s obviously incredibly disappointed, He was having such a great season and probably at that point where he was starting to look forward to playing in finals, but it’s not to be,” the Lions coach said.

“I guess the good part is that he didn’t do it at the start of the season and then miss 22 games.

“He got to play 18 and he’s got the summer to repair, so he’ll be back sometime around the middle of next year, maybe a little bit earlier, so there’s a positive there, but he and his family are hurting this week and we are there for him.”

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