Dayne Zorko counselled by Brisbane Lions, faces AFL probe into alleged personal sledge that left opponent in tears
UPDATED: The Brisbane Lions have investigated the on-field incident between Dayne Zorko and Harrison Petty, during the Demons' 58-point hammering, with the club's skipper apologising for his behaviour.
As the siren sounded to end the third quarter, cameras caught Petty and Zorko engaging in a push and shove before the Demons defender was seen in tears in Melbourne's huddle.
Petty was visibly distressed, prompting Demons football boss Alan Richardson seeking out his Lions counterpart Danny Daly to notify him of the incident.
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Via a statement this morning, the club confirmed Zorko has been counselled by senior management and admits his comments were "inappropriate."
Harrison Petty is consoled by Mark Williams and Troy Chaplin Seven
"I have apologised to Harrison for the inappropriate comment I made to him last night," Zorko said.
"I'm remorseful for my actions and take full responsibility for the hurt caused to Harrison, his family and the Melbourne Football Club.
"In reflection, I understand I need to be a better leader, and have spoken with the club who have reinforced this."
The Brisbane Lions have also extended an apology to Harrison and the Melbourne Football Club, and expressed gratitude for the way both clubs dealt with the issue.
The AFL has opened an investigation into the incident.
Petty (R) began the fourth quarter on the interchange bench, but returned to the ground shortly after Seven
Following his side's 18. 7. (115) to 8. 9. (57) win at the Gabba, which secured them a top-four spot, Melbourne's Simon Goodwin touched on the Petty incident, but refused to divulge too many details regarding the sledge itself.
"Obviously Petts thought he'd heard something inappropriate about a family member and he was bit upset about it," Goodwin told reporters.
"Brisbane have spoken to us and obviously the AFL will look at it. Petts was a bit emotional at three-quarter time, he went away ... then came back into the game.
"Brisbane has been quite apologetic to us and that's the type of footy club they are."
Brisbane Lions skipper Dayne Zorko is set to be investigated over the matter Getty
Zorko was remonstrated with by a number of Demons players after the final siren and and looked to have apologised to Petty, with the pair shaking hands.
"I don't know exactly what was said, but Petts wasn't like he normally is. He's a tough country boy if you know him, not much rattles him," Melbourne defender Steven May told AFL Nation after the match.
"I had a chat to Zorko at the end and told him whatever you said, you crossed the line. He was pretty remorseful but he told me he didn't say it, I think there was a misunderstanding.
"There's a line that you don't cross on-field. For one of my teammates to be upset, it pinched a nerve."
Brisbane Lions skipper Dayne Zorko cops some choice words from Melbourne's James Harmes Getty
The incident followed a separate scuffle involving Zorko on the half-time siren, with St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt criticising the Lions skipper for showing "fake toughness".
"They look like a side that it (off-ball scuffling) just doesn't come naturally to them," he said on Fox Footy's coverage.
"Even at the end with Dayne Zorko – last week against St Kilda he was carrying on and it's carried on into this week.
"They're distracted, I'm not sure what he thinks he's trying to do from a leadership point of view with that group, but it's clearly not working when you carry on and fake toughness is distracting the team from what they need to achieve."
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