Gold Coast, who had nominated Zorko as one of their 2011 Queensland Priority Selections, relinquished their right to the dynamic 22 year-old in exchange for the Lions’ second round draft selection.
The Lions also elevated themselves five positions in the third round by securing the SUNS' Pick No.47.
Meanwhile, Melbourne sent defender Matthew Warnock to the Gold Coast and received the Lions' Pick No.52.
Zorko is a quick and gutsy midfielder who has dominated the local Queensland competition for the past four years.
The Broadbeach Captain is fresh from another outstanding season in the NEAFL, winning the 2011 Syd Guildford Trophy as the Football Record Player of the Year and claiming his fourth successive Best and Fairest award with the Cats.
He also won the Zane Taylor Medal after a brilliant four-goal performance in Queensland’s narrow loss to Western Australia and finished just one vote shy of securing the competition’s highest individual honour - the Grogan Medal.
In fact, Zorko has finished in the Grogan Medal top ten in three of the past four seasons.
The former State U18 and U21 Captain has been considered unlucky not to have been previously drafted considering his natural ability to play both in the midfield and up forward.
His nous in front of goals was never more evident than in 2010 when he lined up at full-forward against the Western Magpies and booted a career-best 12 goals in one of his more stellar individual efforts.
Lions National Talent Manager Rob Kerr said the Lions were thrilled to secure the exciting home-grown prospect to the Club via the trade period, rather than try their luck at the National Draft.
"Dayne has been a standout in the local Queensland competition for a number of years and has probably been unlucky not to have been drafted to the AFL earlier," Kerr said.
"After witnessing his impressive performance in the State game against Western Australia, our recruiting staff tracked him closely for the remainder of the season.”
“He has sparked plenty of interest from a number of opposition clubs, and we had no doubt that Dayne was going to be selected by someone at next month’s Draft.”
"We were actually prepared to use one of our second round selections at the Draft to get him to the Lions, so being able to effectively secure him during Trade Week for Pick No.34 is a great result. It eliminates the risk of someone trumping us on the day."
"Dayne's a really quick and talented midfielder/small forward who we feel is ready to play senior AFL footy next year."
