Dayne Zorko will seek to build upon a blistering 2017 campaign this Sunday afternoon when he plays his first game for the Lions in 2018.

Zorko will Captain the side against the Gold Coast Suns in the Club’s second JLT Community Series clash at the Fankhauser Reserve in Southport.

“That’s one place I haven’t been fortunate enough to Captain the side. So to do it at a ground I played a lot of junior football at…I’m really looking forward to it,” Zorko said.  

The 29-year-old, who grew up on the Gold Coast, also can’t wait to meet real opposition.

“You get sick of playing against your own teammates. You get tired of that. It will be good to play some good opposition on the weekend,” he said.

The midfielder had a career-best season in 2017 where he was recognised with his first All-Australian blazer, played for his country in the International Series and was awarded the Lions’ Merrett-Murray Medal as Club Champion.

“[I’m] constantly trying to develop my game and keep getting better. Because if you don’t do that the game just goes past you unfortunately,” he said. 

“I think being older and being a leader of the team, we [need to] bring consistency every week and that’s something I’m certainly trying to do.”

The young men at the Lions have impressed Zorko with their commitment and growth so far this season. Jarrod Berry, Rhys Mathieson and 2017 number 1 draft pick Cameron Rayner come to mind.

“His work ethic is top notch which is really encouraging for a young player,” Zorko said about Rayner.

With the Premiership season just over two weeks away Zorko is feeling optimistic about what this group can do. 

“There’s a really strong want to improve every week,” he said.

“The ceiling is off at the moment and we want to play consistently good football.”