Matthew Lloyd says Joe Daniher would be the biggest departure in Essendon history

An Essendon great fears Joe Daniher’s departure would be one of the “biggest losses” in Bombers history as the club braces to lose two of its best attacking weapons this off-season.

Dylan Shiel moved to Essendon to play with Joe Daniher.

Essendon great Matthew Lloyd has declared Joe Daniher leaving for Sydney would be the biggest departure in the club’s history.

Bombers goalkicking legend Lloyd said he feared the club would be left to ask “serious questions” if forwards Daniher and Orazio Fantasia walked out.

The Herald Sun reported on Wednesday Fantasia would request a trade, while Daniher is widely tipped to ask for a move to the Harbour City.

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Lloyd said he had concerns about Essendon’s prospects if two of its most talented attacking weapons left in the same off-season.

“Players like Joey Daniher come around once every 10 years,” Lloyd said on Sportsday.

“This would be one of the biggest losses in the history of the club.

“I can’t imagine a bigger player to have walked out on the footy club, if that’s what happens.”

Lloyd said he would be saddened if Daniher departed Tullamarine.

“I think Joe at his best is Essendon’s best player and Orazio at his best is a very, very good player who can kick you 35-40 goals,” he said.

“So there’s 100 goals a season between these two guys.”

He said it was “strange” Daniher and Fantasia had not declared their intentions days out from trade period starting.

Joe Daniher at Essendon’s best and fairest on Tuesday night. Pic: AAP

Orazio Fantasia is weighing up his future. Pic: AAP

Teammate Dylan Shiel, considered icing on the cake of the Bombers’ recent list build, revealed Daniher had been part of the Essendon team that made their pitch to lure him south to Tullamarine.

“Personally, I came to the Bombers because of guys like Joe and wanting to play with him long-term,” Shiel said.

Writing in a Herald Sun column this year Devon Smith, another former Giant who was wooed to Tullamarine, said the club’s budding list was at the top of his reasons for choosing Essendon.

“It was young and had a great spine,” Smith wrote.

When asked at the club’s best and fairest award if he believed the pair would be at Essendon next season, skipper Dyson Heppell was confident. But with interstate clubs circling the duo, doubts remain.

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Originally published as Matthew Lloyd says Joe Daniher would be the biggest departure in Essendon history