Joe Daniher clears the air on his catch-up with Tom Harley

Essendon forward Joe Daniher has opened up on his meeting with Sydney boss Tom Harley which had the footy world talking, and where he’ll likely be playing next year.

Joe Daniher says his meeting with Tom Harley was blown out of proportion. Picture: AAP

Joe Daniher has given a strong indication he will be at Essendon next year but was noncommittal about his future beyond his current contract.

The key forward is contracted to the Bombers until the end of 2020 but a meeting with Sydney chief executive Tom Harley prompted speculation he was considering a move to the Swans.

Daniher said his meeting with Harley was “blown out of proportion” and that Essendon officials knew about the catch-up.

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Having been restricted to only 11 games since the start of 2018 because of osteitis pubis and calf injuries, Daniher said his focus was getting his body right for next season with the Bombers.

“My management and the Essendon Football Club have a fantastic relationship and we’re always in constant contact,” Daniher said.

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“I’m really excited about getting back out and playing for the Essendon Football Club because I haven’t had the opportunity to do that as much as I would’ve liked in recent times.

“ … I can see how people write the stories like this, people want to get a bit of click bait.

“For me, I just concentrate on what I’m doing and that’s getting my body in the best shape as quickly as possible and hopefully getting out there and performing for Essendon Football Club next season.”

Joe Daniher has indicated he’ll be at the Bombers next season. Picture: Getty Images

Daniher wouldn’t be drawn on whether he owed the Bombers another contract because of his injury battles.

“I think every day I go into work, I’m there to do the best possible job that I can,” Daniher told Fox Footy.

“And unfortunately at the moment I’m going into work and not being able to do my job and perform for the Essendon Football Club but my role solely is going out there and doing everything I can as a professional athlete to be in the best shape Ican be for the Essendon footy club.”

However, Daniher said every player’s “ideal situation was to play for the one club” and the only way he wouldn’t be at Essendon next season was if coach John Worsfold “told me that I wasn’t good enough for the team and he didn’t like me anymore and he wanted to get rid of me.”

Daniher has had two injury-interrupted seasons. Picture: Getty Images

Daniher explained his catch-up with Harley, who was a mentor of his at the AIS Academy, while he was in Sydney to visit his surgeon.

“It was a great opportunity for me to ring a mentor of mine and catch up whilst I was in Sydney visiting my surgeon which has been blown out of proportion a little bit,” Daniher said.

“But you know I’m really proud of the way that the footy club supports me to do things like this and we can squash that and move on.”

“(I) went over to Tom’s house whilst he was babysitting the kids and had a good catch-up, and then headed on my way and caught up with the surgeon the next morning and got some reasonably positive news there.

“So I’m looking forward to getting on the road in my recovery and moving forward from football.”

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