Dayne Zorko branded 'liability' as concerning footage of Lions raised before AFL grand final

Kane Cornes has predicted the Sydney Swans will destroy Dayne Zorko and the Brisbane Lions' midfielders in the AFL grand final if they produce a similar performance from the prelim against Geelong. The Swans will head into Saturday's big dance as the favourites, and Cornes has pinpointed some concerning scenes against the Cats that might spell trouble for the Lions.

Speaking on 'Footy Classified' on Channel 9 on Tuesday night, the Port Adelaide great highlighted how the Lions' midfielders kept getting caught out of position. During one moment in the second quarter, a number of Brisbane mids were caught "ball-watching" in the Cats' half, which allowed Geelong to get free and kick a goal.

Cornes predicted Tom Papley would run riot in the grand final under similar circumstances. "The Lions kept getting 'sucked in' too close to the contest," Cornes said. "If this happens on Saturday, you watch Sydney get on the outside of these Brisbane midfielders.

"That will be Papley coming up over the high half-forward. They're all like bees to the honey pot getting sucked in. If that's Papley out the back, then you get a goal from a stoppage. Sydney will hold their width and cut you up on the outside."

Cornes also pinpointed the moment Zorko got too greedy and left his man unmarked, which resulted in another Geelong goal. The Lions veteran streamed forward anticipating a teammate would get the ball from a centre bounce, but was left way out of position when the Cats took possession instead.

"He's a bit of a liability Zorko," declared Cornes. "That is your back-line, not your forward-line. Zorko just charged in looking for the hand-ball receive, which he may get in one out of every 10. But the Swans will punish him. He could have three or four [goals] kicked on him if he's not defensively better."

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Swans tipped to resist picking Callum Mills for AFL grand final

The Swans have been the standout team in 2024, except for a month-long dip in form that has since been put in the rearview mirror. The Lions will be desperate to atone for their heartbreaking loss to Collingwood in last year's grand final, but there's a general feeling that Sydney might punish them and things could get ugly.

The Lions will be without ruckman Oscar McInerney, while the Swans will need to decide whether they want to risk Callum Mills. The Swans captain injured his hamstring at training three weeks ago, but is said to be pushing for selection.

According to Swans coach John Longmire, Mills will be put through his paces at training on Wednesday before a decision is made. "Callum will train flat out, that's the plan," Longmire told reporters. "He will turn up tomorrow and train at absolute 100 per cent intensity, and we'll see how we go."

Tellingly, Longmire admitted after the Swans' loss to Geelong in the 2022 grand final that he made a mistake in picking an underdone Sam Reid. On Tuesday night, Cornes and Matthew Lloyd both suggested Longmire won't make the same mistake twice if Mills isn't definitely 100 per cent.

Cornes also declared that Mills might not deserve his spot because of the way he was injured last year during Mad Monday celebrations. "When he tore that rotator cuff being a clown on Mad Monday - that was entirely avoidable," Cornes said.

"For the captain to put himself in that position, it's a lesson to other players. He's had no continuity with his body because he missed so much football due to that stupid incident on Mad Monday. I don't have a lot of sympathy for him at all."