Brisbane coach Chris Fagan has put a big black line through any chance of a Joe Daniher comeback

The rumour mill has been going into overdrive about retired premiership forward Joe Daniher and his premiership coach has had his say.

Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan has laughed off any suggestion retired premiership winner Joe Daniher was thinking about an AFL return declaring he’ll be very surprised” if he ever plays footy again.

The rumour mill had linked Daniher, who pulled the pin after last year’s premiership win after just 204 games, with a year to go on his contract and aged only 30, to Sydney and a lack of potent key forwards across the AFL fuelled the fire for a comeback.

But Fagan, who has been in contact with Daniher as he travels the world, blissfully happy in retirement, was quick to put a line though his former charge on Friday.

“I’m nearly 100 per cent sure, 99.99 per cent sure,” Fagan said ahead of the Lions’ clash with Port Adelaide on Saturday.

“Joe is enjoying life at the moment and the other thing I’d be confident with is if he did, he would play with us.

Brisbane coach Chris Fagan celebrates with Joe Daniher after winning the Grand Final . Photo by Phil Hillyard

“I’ve been texting him a little bit while he’s been in Portugal and Spain, enjoying life, so I don’t think he’d be in great nick right now.

“I’d be very, very surprised if Joey ever plays footy again.”

The Lions return to action after their bye with the run to September being guided by a new, secret theme the coach is driving as his team, second on the ladder, looks for back-to-back titles.

“We’ve got one, but I’m not going to tell you what it is,” he said of his latest catchphrase.

“I don’t want the world to know ... I might let you know if it works, down the track.”

But Fagan was clear that the message revolves around arresting a 4-3, win-loss record at the Gabba this season.

The Lions didn’t lose a game at home in 2023, and after losing the opening three home games last season, switched gears and finished with eight wins from 12 games on their way to premiership success.

“We’ve been a very good team on the road and we haven’t been a very good team at the Gabba,” Fagan said.

“(This week’s been about) a bit of the why, but mostly what are we going to do about it.

Chris Fagan wants the Brisbane Lions to be better at home. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

“It’s pretty important when teams come here teams feel really uncomfortable.”

Fagan also knows how tight the competition is, and with a top-four finish crucial to get back to the grand final, doesn;t want to let the game against the 10th placed Power slip.

“You can have a loss and tumble three or four spots,” Fagan said.

“We shouldn’t feel comfortable ... and we play a team this weekend that’s still a live chance to play finals, sort of where we were at the same stage last year.

“They’ll be coming in all fired up, thinking they’re a chance because of the way we’ve played at the Gabba.”

Darcy Fort will ruck on Saturday and fit-again Oscar McInerney will be rested after playing two VFL games, Fagan mindful of a five-day break before the Lions play Carlton in Melbourne next Thursday.

Originally published as Brisbane coach Chris Fagan has put a big black line through any chance of a Joe Daniher comeback