‘Never forget you’: Chris Fagan says Joe Daniher was ready to retire in 2023

Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan has revealed Joe Daniher’s retirement was far from a surprise as he exits as a premiership winner.

Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan has revealed that Joe Daniher was close to retiring at the end of the 2023 season as he announced he was hanging up the boots.

The 30-year-old forward announced he would finish his career as a premiership winner, confirming the bombshell rumours which emerged before the grand final.

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Daniher booted the Lions’ final two goals in a 60-point drubbing of the Sydney Swans but kept the decision to himself until the news broke on Thursday.

But at the Lions’ Merrett-Murray Medal awards night, Fagan revealed the Daniher had told him he would have retired 12 months ago if Brisbane had defeated Collingwood.

Collingwood won the match by four points and Daniher went around again, playing an important role in the side’s premiership success.

“Last year after the grand final, Joey gave me a call and said ‘can we have a meeting?’” Fagan began.

“So I caught up with him and he said to me ‘you know, if we had have won this week’ — this was the grand final last year — ‘I was going to retire’.

“And I thought ‘oh geez, I hope he’s not going to retire’. But he said ‘I’m going to play for one more year — and I hope we can win a premiership’.

“I’m so pleased that’s happened Joey, that you’ve got to go out on the back of winning a premiership.

“You’ve given us so many wonderful moments, some crazy moments, some head-scratching moments and all those moments, but we’ll never forget you mate. You’ve been so good for our footy club.”

Fagan toasted the retiring Daniher. Photo: Facebook/Brisbane Lions

Daniher had the spotlight. Photo Steve Pohlner

While Daniher booted four behinds before capping the Lions’ premiership victory, the side wouldn’t have even made the big dance if not for his heroics against the GWS Giants.

Daniher booted four majors in the 15.15 (105) to 15.10 (100) semi-final win over the GWS Giants as the Lions came from 44 points down, including two goals in the dying minutes of the match.

Daniher also address the crowd, paying tribute to the club.

“It’s nice to finally get the mic — I’m always chomping at the big for a bit of media, just never seemed to fall my way,” the enigmatic star quipped.

“There’s just two groups I’d like to thank. The first one is the Essendon Football Club and especially Essendon supporters. It’s been a challenging period of time for that football club but as a player I always felt support by the fans and for that I feel very grateful.

“And to the Brisbane Lions, the Fitzroy and Brisbane Bears supporters.

“Thank you so much for embracing me, letting me come here and have a kick — and stuff up a bit on the field, and get another kick and stuff it up again, and then keep trying.

“But we got there in the end. To go out and get a premiership is what this club deserves, what so many people in this room deserve.

“I’m happy to be a small part of it. Thank you all.”

Daniher will finish his career having kicked 395 goals in 204 games split between the Bombers and Lions.

Not a bad way to go out. Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

He had two in the Grand Final. Picture: Mark Stewart

Daniher started his career at Essendon where he played for eight seasons tallying 108 games and 191 goals.

However, his final three seasons with the Bombers were ruined by injury as he was only able to play 15 matches.

After trying unsuccessfully to get to Sydney in 2020, Daniher secured a trade to Brisbane, where he has had a career resurgence after he joining the club in 2021.

He played 96 matches for the Lions, booting 204 goals and will bow out with a premiership victory under his belt.

Daniher retires with plenty of accolades under his belt including a 2017 All-Australian berth, six-times finishing the seasons as the club leading goalkicker (four for Essendon, two for Brisbane), an Anzac Day medal in 2017 and Mark of the Year in 2017.

Harris Andrews, Lachie Neale and Joe Daniher. Picture: David Caird

He also shared a departing message in a story on the Brisbane Lions website.

“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.”

Originally published as ‘Never forget you’: Chris Fagan says Joe Daniher was ready to retire in 2023