The Brisbane Lions have made five changes to its side for this weekend’s blockbuster game against Collingwood at the Gabba, including a much-anticipated debutant.

Mature-age recruit Dayne Zorko, who had an interrupted pre-season with a hip flexor problem, will play his first senior game for the Lions after impressing in the Lions Reserves.

Zorko, a speedy small forward/midfielder, came to the Lions in 2011 Trade Week from NEAFL Club Broadbeach, where he won four successive Best and Fairest awards and captained Queensland’s U21 side.

He enjoyed an outstanding season in 2011 and was just one vote shy of winning the Grogan Medal for the Best and Fairest player in the NEAFL.

Zorko is joined in this week’s side by tagger Andrew Raines, who returns after serving a week’s suspension, veteran defender Josh Drummond, and young pair Niall McKeever and James Hawksley, who have also earned senior call-ups off the back of good form in the Reserves.

Ben Hudson and Ryan Lester are both out this week with general soreness, while Vice Captain Jed Adcock suffered a minor groin complaint during the week that will see him sidelined for this match.

Both Aaron Cornelius and Jack Crisp have been omitted.

The full Lions’ Round 7 team is below:

B: Hanley (11), Maguire (36), McKeever (40)
HB: Golby (41), Patfull (24), Rich (10)
C: Hawksley (12), Rockliff (38), Drummond (39)
HF: Polkinghorne (31), Brown (16), Banfield (18)
F: McGrath (9), Merrett (21), Karnezis (28)
Foll: Longer (5), Black (20), Redden (30)
Int: Polec (4), Raines (29), Harwood (2), Zorko (15)
Emer: Retzlaff (8), Crisp (47), Green (6)

In: Niall McKeever, Josh Drummond, Andrew Raines, James Hawksley, Dayne Zorko

Out: Aaron Cornelius (omitted), Ben Hudson (general soreness), Ryan Lester (general soreness), Jack Crisp (omitted), Jed Adcock (groin)

Milestones: Dayne Zorko - 1st AFL match

New: Dayne Zorko (Broadbeach)