In line with the Queensland Government’s new Care Army initiative, the Brisbane Lions are giving back to their members.  

The Care Army is about caring for all Queenslanders during the coronavirus outbreak, especially those most at risk: Queenslanders over 65 and over 50 if they’re of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent. 

As part of the initiative, Lions Captain Dayne Zorko and defender Ryan Lester were out and about visiting some of the Club’s most at-risk members during their spare time.  

“For us to go out and help them in any way we can, whether it be mowing lawns, gardening, or dropping off groceries, hopefully we can brighten up their day a little bit,” Zorko told The Courier-Mail.  

“There's a lot of people out there that are certainly doing it extremely tough and if we can do anything to assist don’t be afraid to reach out to us, because I think you'll find so many of us are willing to help.” 

Foundation member Ronald Hall has been around the game since he was a kid but said it was “very special” having the Lions visit. 

“With no footy, I keep an eye on what they’re doing through the website and whatnot, but meeting them was even better,” he said. 

“My grandson was there too, and for him to be a part of it and meet Zorko, his favourite player, was great.” 

All-Australian Dayne Zorko said he wants to assure people there is help out there. 

“They make our job come to life through the support they give us through the difficult times and through the good times,” he said. 

“So it’s letting people know they're not alone. 

“There are so many people in so many different avenues that you can reach out too and I feel it's very important to speak out.” 

While it has been tough, Zorko says the isolation has been a good test of the club’s culture. 

“There is still plenty of communication between the players, which is important - we'll continue to do that, these times are an opportunity to really test your culture just to find out how strong it really is,” he said. 

“I think we're doing a really good job with it all and we are all making sure we're all OK.” 

Photo supplied by Annette Dew.