UPDATE: Brisbane Lions veteran Dayne Zorko has voiced confidence in teammate Cam Rayner as they gear up for an intense AFL Grand Final against the Geelong Cats this Saturday at the MCG. With a hostile atmosphere expected, Zorko believes Rayner will rise to the occasion and help secure a victory for the Lions.
Rayner, who faced heavy scrutiny in their qualifying final on September 5, when the Cats triumphed by 38 points, is anticipated to be a target once again. During that match, Rayner drew two controversial free-kicks after being pushed over, leading to goals that stirred the ire of Geelong fans. Zorko stated, “Cam just will be Cam. We don’t tell him to be anyone different or do anything different.”
The Lions, striving for back-to-back premierships, are preparing for a fierce contest. Zorko emphasized that Rayner has “plans in place” to handle the pressure and will do “what he needs to do” for the team. Zorko also acknowledged that fellow star Hugh McCluggage will face significant attention from Geelong’s Oisin Mullin, particularly after McCluggage was effectively neutralized in their last encounter.
“We probably didn’t have good enough plans in place to support Hughie,” Zorko explained. “He will sit down with (Lions midfield coach) Cameron Bruce and ‘Fages’ (Lions head coach Chris Fagan) to devise a strategy for better involvement.”
In a promising update, Zorko expressed optimism regarding Lions co-captain Lachie Neale, who is recovering from a torn calf sustained less than three weeks ago. Zorko mentioned, “Sitting next to him on the plane he seemed good, seemed happy, so that’s a good sign.” Neale’s participation hinges on his performance in Thursday’s training session, where he needs to meet specific benchmarks set by the medical team.
The Lions are fully aware that this grand final presents an opportunity to solidify their legacy, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Fans are eagerly awaiting what promises to be a thrilling showdown at the MCG. With the atmosphere charged and emotions running high, all eyes will be on how Rayner and McCluggage respond under pressure.
As the countdown to the grand final continues, anticipation builds for a clash that could define the season. Stay tuned for further updates as the Lions finalize their preparations for Saturday’s pivotal match.
