Dayne Zorko's staggering claim as 'disgusting' sledge details emerge

New details have come to light around Brisbane skipper Dayne Zorko's shocking personal sledge that reduced Melbourne defender Harrison Petty to tears in last Friday's AFL game.

Melbourne's big win over Brisbane on Friday night was overshadowed by Zorko's comment to Petty about his mother, that left the 22-year-old in tears at three-quarter-time.

NOT HAPPY: All-Australian team photo sparks uproar in AFL world 

MORE BAD NEWS: Essendon rocked by fresh bombshell

BRUTAL: Essendon's move against James Hird's son amid rumours

Petty accepted an apology from Zorko immediately after the match, with the Lions skipper facing an avalanche of condemnation in the wake of the incident.

Calls have grown louder in AFL circles for Zorko to be stripped of the Brisbane captaincy as a result of the drama, with the player himself breaking his silence on the controversy on Wednesday.

"At some point, it was important for me to speak," Zorko told SEN's The Run Home.

"I apologised to Harrison on the final siren and obviously that apology still stands, my remorse still stands. If I could take it (the sledge) back, there's no doubt I would.

While admitting there was no excuse for what he said, Zorko was determined to point out players from both sides were dishing out some questionable sledging to one another.

"I want to get across that it was an intense game. Honestly, from the first bounce there was to-ing and fro-ing from both sides of the fence.

"Players across the field probably stepped up to the line all game, and I acknowledge that I certainly crossed that.

"I just reckon it's really important that Lions fans and fans in general understand that it wasn't just an unprovoked sledge, and it wasn't said in isolation."

Veteran AFL reporter Caroline Willson echoed Zorko's point when discussing the controversy on Wednesday night's Footy Classified program.

Wilson - while in no way condoning or justifying Zorko's comments - said they came after the Brisbane player was subjected to "disgusting" sledges by Melbourne players.

“I’m told that some of the stuff said to Zorko — and he gives as good as he gets, he’s a famous sledger — was pretty disgusting,” she said.

“If you were going to investigate what was said, you’d be more investigating what was said to Zorko about women in his life [that was] far worse than what was said to Petty.”

The AFL opted not to take the matter further and Zorko said he hadn't expected league intervention.

“The AFL got involved and dropped this case like a hot potato by the weekend,” Wilson added.

“Melbourne were very, very keen for it to go away as well and both clubs said they were happy with the way it was handled. There was a big call from within some media circles to go on with it.

“It was a terrible thing to say, but I don’t think there was any personal issue with Petty and his mother. It was just a terrible thing to say.”

Dayne Zorko addresses captaincy situation

On Tuesday, Melbourne captain Max Gawn said he'd never heard as "deep" a personal sledge as Zorko's.

Zorko said he realised he'd overstepped the mark with a comment that had "triggered" Petty after the defender "made a beeline" for him at three-quarter time.

Brisbane haven't stripped Zorko of the captaincy and he expected to remain in the role until the players next elect their skipper.

"I've had extremely long conversations with our senior administration at the club. They've heard both sides of the story," he said.

"It should be well known I take my role as captain extremely seriously and I have ever since I took over five years ago.

"On that matter, the captaincy has always been a decision made by the players and our playing group, that's one thing that (coach Chris Fagan) and the administration have said 'whoever's captain will be chosen by their players and their teammates.'

"I guess for me, until that's up for decision again, I'll respect whatever the players choose to do when that happens. But that's all that we've sort of touched on the matter."

with AAP

Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.