Collingwood’s Mason Cox has let fly at Brisbane’s Dayne Zorko in the aftermath of last Saturday’s preliminary final, where the Lions captain ripped off the American’s protective glasses and copped a fine for it.
Zorko was sanctioned $5,000, later reduced to $3,125 with an early plea, but it’s Cox’s stinging assessment that has turned heads.
Speaking on ESPN Australia’s Red Time podcast, Cox revealed he deliberately went after Zorko during the contest, before making it clear where he stands on the dual All-Australian.
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'Not someone I’d say nice things about'
“Dayne Zorko’s an important person, a person you can sometimes get in the head of ... he was the guy who gave away the free kick, so I was like ‘if I can get inside his head a little bit, why not?’” Cox said.
“And I’ll say this. Dayne Zorko, he’s kind, I think he’s a great man, a great role model, a person I think I’d be great friends with — are all things I would not say about Dayne Zorko, I’ll be honest with you.
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“Look, I don’t think he’s the favourite player of a lot of people, including myself. He’s a great player, no denying that in respect to him and his ability on the football field. That’s pretty much all I’ll say around it.”
Zorko, for his part, brushed off the backlash earlier this week, joking: “If a seven-foot guy comes running at you in the streets, what are you going to do? ... Should I have grabbed his glasses? Probably not. However, it is what it is. I don’t really care; I get to play in a grand final this week.”