BRISBANE will be without skipper Dayne Zorko in the scandal against Port Adelaide next week.
The Lions midfielder, who missed the win over West Coast with Achilles pain last week, strained his right calf in the second season of Sunday’s big win against Adelaide.
LIONS TOO GOOD Full game coverage and statistics
Coach Chris Fagan said after the game that he will miss at least a week, but it will likely be more.
“It is disappointing for him, he worked really hard to come back. He did a great job training on Thursday,” said Fagan.
“He will definitely be missing next week. It will be a challenge for him because he is such a resilient player who has played every week.
“But he’s a professional and he’ll work extra hard to get it right and we’ll bring him back when he’s ready.”
Fagan was satisfied with all aspects of the 37-point win, except for the inaccuracy with which his team scored a lavish 10.23.
“I’m as disappointed as the players as there was no major reward on the scoreboard, but not dissatisfied with the way we played,” he said.
The crows threatened to make a game of it with the only four goals in season three, but that was the only bright spot on another disappointing day.
Despite the fourth loss in a row, coach Matthew Nicks was able to take advantage of the positive results.
“We managed to change the mindset a bit in the third one, and we saw what Footy we are about,” he said.
“Unfortunately we couldn’t keep it up and in Brisbane’s favor I thought they increased the pace in the last game when they were challenged to do what a good team does.
“At the moment we are not consistent enough to survive at this level.
“But hopefully our fans took some confidence in what they saw because in the third quarter it was a simple shift that allowed us to win this competitive ball a little more and the game looks easier.”
“It is our challenge to do this on a quarterly basis.”
The Crows had their own injury problems when Rory Sloane came off with a bad ankle injury.
Sloane went straight to the room for treatment but was able to return in the second half.
The Crows lost Will Hamill after a head stroke in the first quarter due to a concussion and had to make a change before the game. Elliott Himmelberg replaced Darcy Fogarty, who sustained a shoulder injury during training.
Fogarty is expected to be fit for the duel against the winless Fremantle next week.
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