Sydney coach Dean Cox denies club has reached out to Joe Daniher about an AFL return

While Joe Daniher enjoys the European high life, both his former and rumoured future coaches have spoken out about reports linking him to a potential AFL return.

Swans coach Dean Cox has categorically denied that the club has reached out to premiership-winning key forward Joe Daniher as a potential solution to their attacking problems.

Sydney has been far from their free-flowing attacking best this season, with last year’s key trio of Joel Amartey, Logan McDonald and Hayden McLean all impacted by a combination of injury, suspension and form issues in 2025.

Daniher stepped into retirement after last year’s grand final triumph with the Lions, and is currently gallivanting around Europe while focusing on business interests. But it hasn’t stopped reports linking him with a potential AFL comeback in the red and white.

Daniher marks strongly against the Swans in last year’s grand final. Picture: Phil Hillyard

The Swans haven’t got the same output out of their key forwards in 2025. Picture: Phil Hillyard

The Swans have also been recently linked with a move for the Bulldogs’ former number-one draft pick, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, but it is the Daniher connection that has been stronger over the past fortnight. The Swans also initially tried to lure Daniher to the Harbour City before he eventually left Essendon for Brisbane at the end of 2020.

However, Cox was adamant that the Swans had not picked up the phone to the 31-year-old.

“As a footy club, we haven’t inquired or spoken to Joe,” Cox said. “I can categorically say that.

“Having said that, I make sure the list management team are exploring everyone across the country to improve our list. Joe just hasn’t been on that list.

“I wouldn’t mind going over to Europe to say hello. But no, we haven’t made any contact.”

Isaac Heeney and Will Hayward are the only two players who have kicked 20+ goals this season for the Swans, while Amartey is set to return for Sunday’s clash against Fremantle as the club’s main key forward threat.

Chris Fagan believes if Daniher was to return, it would only be to the Lions. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Meanwhile, Daniher’s former coach Chris Fagan also played down any talk that he could be convinced to pull on the boots again. The pair teamed up for the ultimate premiership success against the Swans last September, and it’s clear that it was the highlight that Daniher wanted to end his career with.

“I’m nearly 100 per cent sure, 99.99 per cent sure,” Fagan said. “Joe is enjoying life at the moment, and the other thing I’d be confident with is if he did (return), he would play with us.

“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.”

Originally published as Sydney coach Dean Cox denies club has reached out to Joe Daniher about an AFL return