DEFIANT Brisbane Lions vice-captain Dayne Zorko has thrown his support behind Justin Leppitsch, saying the relationship between the coach and his players has never been better.
Reports have circled the Lions in the past week suggesting that unrest between senior players and Leppitsch had forced the club to look at further football department appointments.
But after denying those appointments, Zorko got on the front foot regarding the coach's relationship with his players.
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The 27-year-old was at the centre of suggestions last year that he'd fallen out with Leppitsch, but said the coach had improved in leaps and bounds in 2016.
"Unless you're inside the four walls you don't understand what really goes on," Zorko said.
"We've got a lot of trust and a lot of belief in Leppa and he's doing a really great job at the moment.
"These rumours started to happen at this time last year as well, but I can dismiss that right now.
"Things are as strong as they've ever been at the club.
"The playing group stands right behind Leppa, even the senior players."
Zorko said the acquisition of welfare manager Craig Lambert – a long-time ally and staunch Leppitsch supporter – had made a big difference.
He said although the coach could be harsh on occasions – he has needed to be with a 1-14 record – Leppitsch had been largely positive through a rough year.
Zorko said it was up to the entire playing group to prove the critics wrong, starting with a strong performance against Greater Western Sydney on Sunday.
"It's great to have so many young kids coming through, and as senior players I think we'd all like to be playing a little better … but inside our four walls, what the senior players are doing is phenomenal," he said.
"We want to stand really strong as a playing group and I think this weekend we'll eliminate those glimpses of 10 or 15 minutes where we just look uninterested.
"That's what we're going to try and eliminate for the rest of the year and really stand united as one."
