By Scott Spits, Marc McGowan, Michael Gleeson and Roy Ward
Joe Daniher would have retired if the Brisbane Lions had won last year’s AFL grand final, a match in which this year’s premiers were narrowly beaten to the flag by Collingwood.
Brisbane premiership coach Chris Fagan said he’d known for 12 months, since coach and star player spoke after that four-point loss to the Magpies, that Daniher was serious about cutting short his AFL career.
One of the biggest post-AFL grand final questions was answered on Thursday when Daniher’s retirement at age 30 after 204 matches was confirmed.
“He said to me [after last year’s loss to Collingwood]: ‘You know if we had have won this week I was going to retire’,” Fagan mused to the crowd at Brisbane’s best and fairest event at The Star in Brisbane.
“He said, ‘I’m going to play for one year and I hope we can win a premiership’.
“And I’m so pleased that happened.
“You’ve given us so many wonderful moments, and head scratching moments and all those moments, and we’ll never forget that.”
In brief comments the media-shy Daniher made special mention of his first club, Essendon, after playing a pivotal role in Brisbane’s remarkable 2024 premiership.
He said Brisbane’s flag – the club’s first in 21 years – was hard fought and “what this club deserves”.
Drafted to Essendon in 2012 before making his AFL debut the following season when the Bombers were embroiled in the drugs scandal, Daniher thanked all at Tullamarine for their contribution to his decade-long AFL career.
Daniher was not one of the 34 players suspended for their part in the scandal, as he arrived after the 2012 season, but he experienced the tough period that followed. In 2016 the Bombers won three matches and collected the wooden spoon when the club was stripped of top-level talent and turned to top-up players.
Daniher crossed to Brisbane for the 2021 season, having asked for a trade the previous season after a secret meeting with Swans chief executive Tom Harley was reported by this masthead.
The versatile big man thanked the Lions for welcoming him and said he played a “small part” in Brisbane’s remarkable flag.
“Always champing at the bit for a bit of media,” Daniher joked before thanking the Lions and the Bombers.
“Thanks so much for embracing me.
Joe Daniher has hung up his boots.Credit: AFL Photos
“Letting me come here and have a kick, stuff up a bit on the field, get another kick and stuff up again ... but we got there in the end.
“To go out and get a premiership is what this club deserved and I’m very happy to be a small part of it so thank you.”
Fagan lauded Daniher as a finals specialist. His heroics will forever be remembered after starring late in the stunning comeback semi-final win over GWS .
Daniher booted the final two goals of the game, including a difficult shot from the left forward pocket, as Brisbane snatched victory by five points. Daniher was also one of the club’s key players in the grand final demolition of Sydney.
“We love you. You’ll always be a Brisbane Lions premiership player,” Fagan told Daniher in front of the crowd.
“All the best with what you do in the future.”
Fagan acknowledged Daniher’s telling contribution to the Lions over the past four seasons.
“He hates this,” Fagan said, asking for Daniher to stand in front of the Brisbane supporters.
“He bloody retired on us today, but what a fantastic contribution you’ve made to our footy club, mate, since you’ve been here these last four years.
Daniher’s final game in the AFL was a premiership win.Credit: AFL Photos
“And the thing you specialise in is finals, is playing well in finals.
“This year was a bit different for you. You kicked some goals for us, but you also had to play in the ruck as well.
“When you had to, you did that job really, really well.”
According to his dad Anthony, Joe leaves the AFL with a smile on his face and the support of his famous football family.
But the Lions premiership player will now have to face family matriarch Edna Daniher and explain his decision.
“The biggest challenge Joe has got is how to explain to his 90-year-old grandma, Edna, why he is not playing next year,” Anthony told SEN with a laugh on Thursday.
“That is the next big challenge. She will be scratching her head (saying) ‘what are you doing?’
“If Jim [Joe’s grandfather] was still alive, he would be saying the same thing.”
Daniher was contracted to the Lions for next season on an estimated $900,000, but his father has no doubt he is happy with his decision and won’t have any regrets.
“[He’s] done and dusted I would say,” Anthony said.
Anthony added that Joe’s focus would be on his partner Adelle and two young children.
“He has a beautiful daughter, a beautiful son, and they are both up and about, so in 10 to 15 years’ time, who knows who could be running about kicking a footy,” Anthony said.
Anthony played 115 games for the Swans and 118 for the Bombers, while Joe’s uncles Neale, Terry and Chris also played for Essendon. The four brothers famously played together in 1990.
Joe’s move to Brisbane was based in-part on an attempt to reduce the scrutiny of being a high-profile AFL player in Melbourne.
Lions football boss Danny Daly said the Lions were aware from late in the season it was likely Daniher would retire.
But he joked on Thursday that club officials made a last attempt to re-sign Daniher during their premiership celebrations.
“I think we all knew that this news would come at some stage, even though we tried to get him to sign a coaster on Monday for another year,” Daly told AFL Trade Radio.
Daniher has 395 goals to his name across 12 seasons. He was an All-Australian in 2017, won Essendon’s best and fairest, the AFL’s Mark of the Year, an Anzac Medal, and was a six-time leading goalkicker across his stints with the Bombers and Lions.
“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 [part of] a team,” Daniher said in a Lions statement.
“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.
“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.”
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,” he 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.
“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.”
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