‘Smart arse’: Joe Daniher’s monumental halftime brain fade

The Lions returned to the sheds at halftime shaking their heads after Joe Daniher botched what should have been a comfortable goal.

Joe Daniher of the Brisbane Lions.

The Brisbane Lions returned to the sheds at halftime shaking their heads after forward Joe Daniher botched what should have been a comfortable goal late in the second quarter on Saturday evening.

Port Adelaide kicked four goals during the second term at the Gabba to hold a narrow four-point lead as the Round 1 contest approached halftime.

With seconds remaining on the clock, Daniher leapt above his rivals to claim a towering mark less than 15 metres out from the opposition goalposts.

Stream every match of every round of the 2022 Toyota AFL Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free In-Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

But instead of attempting the shot on goal, which would have guaranteed a halftime lead for the hosts, he opted to handpass the Sherrin to teammate Nakia Cockatoo.

And before Cockatoo booted the footy through the sticks, the halftime siren sounded signifying the end of the second term.

The goal was disallowed, and Port Adelaide went into the break with a 5.4 (34) to 4.6 (30) lead.

Daniher laughed off the incident with his teammates, who were visibly unimpressed with what had transpired.

“What a brilliant mark and what a brain fade,” Hawthorn legend Dermott Brereton told Fox Footy at halftime.

“That’s a smart arse, just kick the goal. You’ve taken a towering mark, kick the goal back over the bloke’s head you’ve taken the specky on and look him in the eye and say, ‘That was pretty good, wasn’t it?’

“He brings theatre in it because you’re on the edge of your sitting thinking, ‘What is he going to do brilliantly next, what is he going to brilliant stuff up next?

“He brings you all the emotions in one evening of football.”

Fox Footy presenter Kath Loughnan continued: “I think Joe Daniher would like those last few seconds back. Slightly unlucky.”

Joe Daniher of the Lions marks the ball. Photo by Jono Searle/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Sports reporter Mark Gottlieb tweeted: “That’s why teams hold up giant cardboard signs that tell players there’s 30 seconds left. Absolute brain fade from Daniher.”

CODE Sports’ Daniel Cherny posted: “If you needed to sum up Joe Daniher’s career in 10 seconds you’d just show what happened there.”

Sports broadcaster and former AFL player Tony Armstrong told Fox Footy post-match: “It’s almost like if you wanted to sum him up as a footballer it’s that five seconds of play before the half, he takes a big hanger, then doesn’t exactly think where he is for a second.

“But geez, he brings a lot of joy to everyone with the way that he plays and the smile that he has on his face.”

Joe Daniher of the Lions. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Daniher redeemed himself in the second half, kicking four goals as Brisbane secured a thrilling 11.14 (80) to 10.9 (69) victory.

The 28-year-old told Channel 7 after the win: “I’d like to get that one back.

“It is the way I’m trying to play I don’t think the coach will be too worried about it because we got the four points. A little more game awareness.”

Speaking to Channel 9’s AFL Sunday Footy Show, journalist Damian Barrett blamed “unfortunate timing” for the blunder.

“I would have taken the view he go back, realise it is 30 minutes or thereabouts in the quarter, take responsibility, kick the goal,” he said on Sunday morning.

Former Port Adelaide star Port Adelaide elaborated: “That’s let them down in big games. They’ve been inaccurate in big finals. You’re a key forward who’s played a lot of footy now. Just go back and kick the goal.

“I don’t think he should have to have that told to him at the age of 28.”

The Lions will next face Essendon at Marvel Stadium on Saturday, March 26, with the first bounce scheduled for 4.35pm AEDT.

Originally published as ‘Smart arse’: Joe Daniher’s monumental halftime brain fade