Joe Daniher cannot reproduce his matchwinning role on Anzac Day in Essendon’s 38-point loss to Melbourne
JUST when Joe Daniher seemed about to announce himself as a genuine star, he produced a performance that was part black comedy, part farce in Essendon’s 38-point loss to Melbourne.
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BRENDON Goddard could not know his outlandish prediction would come back to haunt him.
Goddard said Joe Daniher possessed Lance Franklin-like qualities after his matchwinning role in Essendon’s Anzac Day victory over Collingwood.
And, as if on cue, Daniher cost Essendon a game with the kind of shank-fest that Franklin, kicking at his worst, can summon.
We don’t think that was what Goddard meant, but you get the point.
Just when Daniher seemed about to announce himself as a genuine star, he produced a performance that was part black comedy, part farce.
Only after six behinds and an out-of-bounds kick did Daniher finally notch his solitary goal, and even then it was umpire-assisted.
His first wayward snap for goal was wide, yet the umpire was still setting the mark so handed him a second chance.
Daniher raised his arms in mock delight but, in truth, it drew Essendon’s only laugh for the day.
Like Franklin, Daniher’s highs are breathtaking and his lows plumb new depths.
He missed boundary-line shots with savage hooks, set shots dead in front by overcompensating and routine snaps on his left foot.
But despite the most inaccurate performance of his 76-game career, coach John Worsfold urged Daniher to back his goalkicking routine.
Daniher and forward coach Haydn Skipworth mapped out a plan to improve his goalkicking that was ruined by a summer knee injury.
But Worsfold said that Daniher had been putting in the work since returning from a knee issue that prevented him from kicking for months.
His advice is to keep training hard.
“Be brave, back yourself in, do the work and he will be a better kick than he currently is if he woks hard consistently at it,’’ he said.
“Don’t expect everything will be right in a week or a month. It is an ongoing part of his improvement as a player.”
While Daniher’s kicking for goal was appalling, Jobe Watson looked tired and sore and the Dons played accordingly.
Watson was held to just 13 possessions but Worsfold said the former skipper was determined to play five days after Anzac Day.
“Joke is OK. It was a quiet day for him. He spent a bit more time forward than normal. He didn’t have the impact he would have liked to have but all players have days like that,’’ Worsfold said.
“It is easy in hindsight (not to have played him) but I had good discussions with Jobe during the week and he felt ready to play.
“We did make quite a few changes but Jobe was confident he had recovered and was ready to contribute.”
For a half, Melbourne won the ball in close then found new ways to squander it going forward. With Cam Pedersen and Jack Watts rucking and Christian Petracca looking dangerous in attack, Michael Hurley stopped constant attacking thrusts.
Finally the Demons manned up Essendon’s loose defender and kicked 8.3 from 13 third-quarter entries.
Watts, Mitch Hannan, Petracca and Jeff Garlett would eventually combine for 13.2, in stark contrast to Daniher’s profligate 1.6.
“(Kicking straight) is pretty important,’’ Jack Watts said post-game.
“We were on the other end of it early in the year and it deflates you. Watching Joey down the other end, he’s in my “Bench” fantasy team as my goalkicker so mixed emotions.
“But nah, we knew coming off a Tuesday game we would hurt them and we got back to the way we wanted to play.
“We got a little rev up at half time and it was back to basics. We had been so fumble. We got back to one-metre war craft and winning the hard ball and it went from there.”
The contest was so bad by half time both teams had combined for 71 clanger and ineffective kicks.
If dynamic ticketing was about more than price-gouging fans, president Lindsay Tanner would have been handing back $20 notes to fans leaving Etihad Stadium.
As he made it rain with “lobsters” would have found kick-to-kicks on the concourse with more skill than what was going on inside.
Watts said even the players saw the comical side of the consistent turnovers.
“We were pretty aware of it, when you watch as a forward and you are leading and anticipating the next kick.
“At one stage there were about five turnovers in a row and the boys almost started laughing. It was amazing. But that’s how both teams play, they take it on and there are going to be turnovers.”
Clayton Oliver got down and dirty all afternoon, co-captains Nathan Jones and Jack Viney took a step forward and Cam Pedersen provided real grunt.
McDonald has his critics but he was mighty as the only dangerous aerial target across the ground given the club’s ruck crisis.
Watts did exactly what Daniher can’t right now — converted his chances — and Petracca was dynamic as always with three goals.
Essendon looked like a team coming off a short break who couldn’t summon the intensity or cover the ground with tired legs.
Andy McGrath was again dashing and balanced, Goddard was excellent and Zach Merrett continued his excellent season.
But if Watson had hit the wall two weeks back it collapsed on him.
ESSENDON 2.2 4.8 6.12 10.14 (74)
MELBOURNE 2.4 4.6 12.9 17.10 (112)
GOALS
Bombers: Fantasia 2, Hooker 2, Parish, McGrath, Daniher, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Colyer, Bellchambers
Demons: Petracca 4, Watts 4, Hannan 3, Garlett 3, McDonald, Pedersen, Lewis
BEST
Bombers: Goddard, McGrath, Hurley, Merrett, Heppell, Bellchambers
Demons: T.McDonald, Watts, Petracca, Pedersen, Oliver, Tyson, Hibberd, Lewis
INJURIES
Bombers: Brown (ankle)
Demons: Nil
Reports: Nil
Official crowd: 44,040 at Etihad Stadium
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