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Just days after basking in premiership glory, Joe Daniher has announced his immediate AFL retirement.
The big key forward informed teammates of his decision on Thursday, according to a report from Channel Nine’s Tom Morris.
Reports Daniher had been considering his future in the game surfaced in the lead-up to Brisbane’s emphatic 60-point triumph over Sydney in the grand final, and the 30-year-old has decided to walk away from a lucrative contract with the Lions.
“It will play out over the next period of time. It might be in the next couple of days, it might be in the next week,” Daniher’s agent Adam Ramanauskas told SEN on Wednesday.
“Your guess is as good as mine; Joe will ring me and say ‘this is what I’m doing’. Brisbane want him to play on, his teammates want him to play on. Joe is clearly celebrating heavily at the moment.
“He’s barely got out of his football shorts, boots and jumper since the game.”
But Daniher confirmed the news on Thursday afternoon, bowing out a premiership hero.
“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.
Joe Daniher is set to retire days after bowing out a premiership hero with the Brisbane Lions at the MCG. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
“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.”
As a Lion, Daniher was a constant presence in the forward line over four seasons.
After producing the match-winning kick against Greater Western Sydney, Daniher showed his versatility in the grand final filling in for the injured Oscar McInerney as he successfully spent time in the ruck and helped destroy Sydney.
“Joe is a generational type of player that will go down as one of the best forwards to have played AFL,” Brisbane Lions general manager football, Danny 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.
“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.”
Drafted by Essendon as a father-son pick in 2012, Daniher featured 108 times for the Bombers before moving north, where he added 96 appearances and played two grand finals, losing to Collingwood in 2023 before returning to the MCG and humiliating John Longmire’s side.
The key forward kicked 2.4 against the Swans, mobbed by jubilant teammates after his second goal – and his side’s last – capped off an incredible Brisbane performance to seal their first premiership since 2003 and fourth overall.
He twice led Brisbane in goal-kicking, achieving the same feat on four occasions with Essendon.
Daniher’s retirement ensures a remarkable AFL streak will continue; no premiership team has ever played together again in its entirety after their grand final victory.
Brisbane will also be without Murray Davis next season after the long-time assistant coach departed to take up a newly created role as Adelaide’s coaching director.
with AAP
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