Social media pile-on over an alleged insult by Lions captain  Dayne Zorko needs to end, Mark Hine says. 

In the heat of a rough game against Melbourne on Friday night, it’s believed the midfielder delivered an appalling sledge that left Demons star Harrison Petty in tears.

Zorko has since apologised for the incident and had a lengthy discussion with Petty on the field after the final siren.

“Zorko did the wrong thing, absolutely, but … I feel sorry for him a little bit that it all had to be played out in the media and everywhere,” Mark said on 4BC Breakfast this morning.

“We make mistakes and he made a mistake. When we make mistakes, we shouldn’t feel the need to reinforce that over and over.

“He’s apologised, he’s done what he needed to do.”

Press PLAY below to hear the team’s reaction to the incident

Image: Albert Perez/AFL Photos via Getty Images