AFL news 2024: Joe Daniher tells Brisbane Lions teammates he’s retiring from AFL

Joe Daniher has spoken of his “incredible journey” at the Lions, helping the club climb into contention and finally to a flag, with the key forward announcing his retirement on Thursday.

Brisbane Lions premiership player Joe Daniher is expected to officially announce his retirement at the club’s best and fairest awards on Thursday night.

It is understood Daniher, 30, informed teammates of his decision on Thursday afternoon.

Speculation about his AFL future first broke on the eve of the grand final.

The following day he became a premiership player, steering the Lions to a drought-breaking grand final victory over Sydney.

Daniher was still contracted to the end of 2025, but will walk away from football with a distinguished career behind him.

“I retire knowing I gave my absolute all to the Brisbane Lions and Essendon, and I am extremely proud of what I achieved individually and as a team,” Daniher said.

“I am tremendously grateful for the opportunities given to me by both Brisbane and Essendon and I want to thank both clubs and their incredible fans for their support.

“It’s been an incredible journey here at the Brisbane Lions to go from a club that was really struggling at the bottom of the ladder to winning a premiership.

“As I finish up my career, I do so with the club in a great position on and off the field and I can’t wait to see the Brisbane Lions experience more success in the future.

“I am beyond excited by the squad we have at the Lions and especially the young talent we have coming through that are the future stars of this club.

“I want to thank everyone that has played a part in my AFL career and helping me become the player and person I am today.”

Lachie Neale, Joe Daniher and Dayne Zorko embrace after the AFL Grand Final. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images.

Brisbane Lions General Manager Football, Danny Daly said the club farewelled Daniher with mixed emotions.

“Joe is a generational type of player that will go down as one of the best forwards to have played AFL,” Daly said.

“We are extremely privileged that he played for the Brisbane Lions because he was a huge key to us experiencing the success we have and winning the premiership.

“What I love about Joey is that he has done it his way his whole career and in doing so has become a much-loved cult figure of our club and the AFL.

Joe Daniher and Chris Fagan after the preliminary final win over GWS. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/AFL Photos/via Getty Images.

“We are sad to see him hang up the boots and call time on his career, but he does so with the full blessing of everyone at the Brisbane Lions.

“On behalf of the club I would like to thank Joe, his wonderful wife Adele and their families for all they have given to the Brisbane Lions and wish them all the best.”

A member of the AFL’s royal football family, Daniher played eight seasons at Essendon before moving to the Lions ahead of the 2021 season.

He was a major player in Brisbane’s finals run and kicked 2.4 in the grand final, the week after stepping up to ruck the majority of the club’s miraculous preliminary final win over Geelong after Oscar McInerney went down with a shoulder injury.

The 200cm spearhead kicked 204 goals in 96 games for the Lions.

He will retire as a Brisbane Lions premiership player, six-time club leading goal kicker (Essendon 2014-17, Brisbane 2023-24), Essendon best and fairest winner (2017) and Anzac Day medallist (2017).

Daniher was drafted to Essendon under father-son rule in 2012, chosing the Bombers after having the choice between Essendon and Sydney.

His father, Anthony, played for both the Bombers and the Swans.

Daniher requested a trade to Sydney in 2019 but Essendon held him to his contract after a deal couldn’t be met, with the key forward walking to Brisbane as a free agent a year later.

Originally published as AFL news 2024: Joe Daniher tells Brisbane Lions teammates he’s retiring from AFL