Brisbane Lions midfielder Dayne Zorko has brazenly suggested that Carlton coach Brett Ratten will be coaching for his career on Saturday night when the two sides meet at Etihad Stadium.
In a very inflammatory assessment of Ratten, Zorko intimated that the Blues coach is far from guaranteed to be in charge at Visy Park beyond this season.
The 23-year-old Lion said his team would be confronted by a desperate Carlton on the weekend playing for their under-fire coach whose job is 'still on the line'.
"Brett Ratten's job is probably still on the line, so they're playing for him and they're playing to get momentum going into next year as well," he said.
"They're probably still looking towards the eight and we've just got to shut that out this weekend.
"They've got a great midfield. They're elite. They're classy, they're strong everywhere. Our midfield's got to be up for it, but I think we will.
"It's not an easy game at all, but we won't make it easy for them."
The Brisbane Lions will need also need their actions do the talking if they are any chance against the Blues, according to Zorko.
The Lions went close to extending Richmond's streak of heartbreak on the weekend as they rallied from 46 points down in the final term to get within less than three straight kicks.
But in a performance labelled as embarrassing and unacceptable by skipper Jonathan Brown, their comeback ended right there as the Tigers flicked the switch at the Gabba to romp away to a 48-point win.
That won't do against a Blues side still mathematically in the hunt for a finals spot - and that has been made clear to the Brisbane playing group, says Zorko.
"It's more about finishing off - stop talking about what we're doing, and actually start showing it on the field," the boom midfielder said when asked if coach Michael Voss had a message for the side after the Tigers loss.
"When (Brown) kicked that goal from the middle, there was a real positive vibe.
"The boys were up and about and we thought, well, (Richmond's) last quarters have been real bad over the last six weeks.
"We knew going into the last quarter that with a couple of early ones, we were a chance.
"For the 10 minutes in the last quarter, at the start there we were red-hot. Things were going our way, and then it all fell away again.
"We put our heads down and shut up shop.
"To finish our games is going to be the No.1 priority for the rest of the year, and we'll see if we get some wins out of it."
Gold Coast product Zorko has enjoyed an incredible debut season, quickly establishing himself in the heart of the Lions engine room with an average of just under 20 disposals for his first 12 AFL games.
But the 23-year-old, who was drafted by the Suns as a zone selection before he was traded up the M1 at the end of 2011, finds little comfort in his personal achievements.
"I guess I'm pretty happy with how my form is at the moment, but when the team's losing by such big margins you don't really get caught up in yourself to be honest," he said.
8 Comments
Swans fan here ! Carlton have had more injuries to key playerers than most and probably would of finished top 4 , if they had their best team on the paddock
Replythe players love ratten, thats important. Its when you lose the playes that the coach generally departs
Replyhi there. Im a dumb calton hore that likes lots of come matted in my hair
ReplyTrue D mack. The diff is they give the coaches so many years. Also their is expectations, like Carlton had for tea pot ears. The fact that everyone thought the blues would make the top four was extremely unrealistic
ReplyThere was a young hore named nicky, in her hair was all #$%$ sticky, she followed the blues, who knew how to lose, and now she just eats their dickies
Reply