Age not a barrier for AFL grand-final veterans
Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield and Brisbane’s Dayne Zorko are in their mid-30s but will be crucial in Saturday’s game. Plus the key match-ups that could shape the AFL grand final.
The two oldest men playing on grand-final day won’t be limping to the finish line.
At 35, Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield still has a fierce glint in his eye and the ability to turn a game on a dime.
In Brisbane’s half-back line, Dayne Zorko remains a pivotal part of how the Lions transition from defence to attack, with his scything kicking only improving with age.
The 36-year-old will be the second oldest man, behind Hawthorn great Michael Tuck, to suit up in a grand final.
Make no mistake, both Dangerfield and Zorko will be crucial to how Saturday’s contest plays out.
Dangerfield, who was among the best afield in the Cats’ 2022 triumph, when Joel Selwood was skipper, is chasing his second premiership but first since assuming the captaincy.
It comes just eight days after Dangerfield reminded everyone of his big-game credentials.
Dangerfield delivered one of the great finals performances, putting Geelong on his back with three goals and 31 disposals – including 20 contested possessions – in the preliminary-final win over Hawthorn.
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“We saw what he’s been able to do in finals over the years but in particular on the weekend, the way he threw his body at the contest,” key forward Jeremy Cameron said.
“We know he does that, but when it’s on ground level it just didn’t look like he was going to lose the contest and he sends it our way, hit the scoreboard as well. He pretty much did everything for us.
“So he’ll get himself up for another big game pretty easily.”
Selwood has marvelled at Dangerfield from close quarters and more recently from afar – and certainly wasn’t shocked by his preliminary-final heroics.
“Hopefully he’s got one more in him,” Selwood said.
“He had a look in his eye the other night that I’ve seen before and it was an exceptional performance.
“They’ll need something close to it again because this Lions side keep backing up.”
Nobody backs up better than Zorko – a player who has grown with the Lions from their days in the doldrums to their current era of success.
Zorko, a player who talks the talk and walks the walk, has also proved a difficult man for the Cats to handle in recent times.
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He has collected 35, 33, 28, 32 and 26 disposals in their past five meetings.
But Zorko played down suggestions Geelong could attempt to lock him down.
“Nah, probably not,” Zorko said.
“Given how important their small forwards are … I think as a back six, we’re gonna have our hands pretty full.
“… But if that happens, it happens – it’s nothing new to me.”
Zorko, who has played 303 games despite debuting at the relatively late age of 23, is soaking up a third tilt at glory in as many years.
“It’s probably something I’ll look back on after my career and be ever so grateful for everything the Brisbane Lions have given me and the opportunities they’ve given me,” he said.
“So I’ll probably right now just stay in the moment and enjoy it.
“It’s such a great week, right?”
KEY AFL GRAND-FINAL MATCH-UPS:
* Jeremy Cameron (Geelong) v Ryan Lester (Brisbane). Lester is usually the man to get the job on Geelong’s spearhead. But in the qualifying final, Cameron had the veteran defender on the ropes early and forced the Lions to switch Darcy Gardiner onto him. Keeping the athletic and wickedly dangerous Coleman Medal winner quiet is crucial to slowing down the Cats and Lester will want another crack.
* Oisin Mullin (Geelong) v Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane). Expect the hard-running Irishman to again attempt to put the clamps on Brisbane’s silky-skilled star. Mullin kept McCluggage to just 14 disposals while kicking a goal himself in the qualifying final. All-Australian midfielder McCluggage responded against Gold Coast and Collingwood with big numbers and if he gets off the chain, he could turn the decider Brisbane’s way.
* Mark O’Connor (Geelong) v Cam Rayner (Brisbane). Another feisty match-up that should be revisited in the season decider. O’Connor kept Rayner to just one first-half disposal in the qualifying final before the Lion received a controversial double free kick and kicked two majors just before half-time. Rayner managed to snag a third goal, and 12 second-half touches, as he got under the skin of Cats fans. Powerful forward Rayner can turn a game on its head and O’Connor will need his wits about him all game.
* Shannon Neale (Geelong) v Harris Andrews (Brisbane). Arguably the best key defender in the game right now, Lions co-captain Andrews is an intercepting beast and also plays a crucial role in helping out his teammates. Neale will need to crash packs, mark the ball or at least bring it to ground to thwart the Brisbane skipper, who has had his number recently. There’s also every chance Mark Blicavs could be sent to Andrews, like Magpie Billy Frampton’s famous lockdown role in 2023. Watch this space.
* Rhys Stanley (Geelong) v Darcy Fort (Brisbane). While Blicavs was marvellous in the qualifying final, Stanley will return in the ruck to give Geelong flexibility to cover the loss of Tom Stewart. Blicavs worked over Fort and Oscar McInerney physically and in the clinches, and was critical to their on-ball dominance. Stanley, hugely athletic in his own right, can’t afford to let the Lions get on top where it counts.
