Lions star Dayne Zorko says umpires’ reluctance to award holding-the-ball free-kicks is “irritating” as Brisbane bids to salvage its poor season.
Final 12 months’s crushed grand finalists suffered their sixth loss in 11 matches this season on Sunday, happening by 25 factors to hoodoo workforce Hawthorn.
The Lions haven’t crushed the Hawks – whose most up-to-date finals look was in 2018 – since 2019.
“They definitely play some actually good soccer in opposition to us,” Zorko informed SENQ Breakfast on Monday.
Nonetheless, the previous Lions captain additionally stated inaccuracy was persevering with to harm Brisbane.
“Wanting on the statistics after the sport, it was fairly even. They kicked 15.10 and we kicked 10.15, so goal-kicking performs an enormous half in that (loss),” Zorko stated
“Within the third quarter we had 10 photographs on aim for 3-7. We’ve had an enormous momentum swing in that third quarter and we simply couldn’t get our noses in entrance and apply some scoreboard stress sadly.
“It appears to be a bit little bit of our Achilles heel in the mean time, our goalkicking, and it’s value us in a couple of video games now.”
Zorko was additionally irked by the leeway seemingly being given to ball-carriers by umpires who’re reluctant to provide free-kicks for holding the ball offences.
It’s a difficulty that was additionally questioned by coaches Damien Hardwick (Gold Coast) and Michael Voss (Carlton) after the Blues’ win over the Suns on Saturday.
“Should you watched the primary quarter yesterday, I reckon you’d get a reasonably good indication as to what my opinion was,” Zorko stated.
“It’s actually exhausting for me to phrase this with out getting a $100,000 nice or much more.
“It’s actually exhausting as a participant as a result of in case you do lay the deal with and the particular person hasn’t accurately disposed of it, or you laid the proper deal with and also you’re ready for the whistle to be blown however they decide up the ball and run off with it.
“We’ve been taught to cease. It’s irritating. That’s just about all I can say with out getting myself into hassle. It’s annoying.”
Zorko tipped a “vary of golf equipment” to this week search “clarification” on the matter with the AFL.
“On the identical time, we don’t wish to be seeing an over-reaction this weekend when each single deal with laid is (paid) holding the ball.
“We perceive (the umpires) job is extraordinarily tough, however as gamers, you usually know if it’s holding the ball or not.
“I believe that’s the place the frustration lies with all of the golf equipment in the mean time.”
The Lions have a bye this weekend earlier than returning to motion on Friday week in opposition to the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium.
“We’ll come again … refreshed, able to go to assault the second half of our season, which is clearly actually essential,” Zorko stated.
