Premiership forward Joe Daniher has reportedly called time on his illustrious career, informing teammates of his decision on Thursday afternoon, according to Nine’s Tom Morris.
Reports first emerged of Daniher’s doubts beyond 2024 on the eve of the grand final, with the real possibility that the 2024 grand final would be his 204th and final match.
And after a spectacular 10-goal win over Sydney that delivered Daniher his first flag at the top level, the 30-year-old looks set to have stepped away from the game for good at age 30.
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‘Hopefully he stays around’ | 02:06
Seven’s Mitch Cleary has also since reported Daniher is retiring.
While an eventual discussion between Daniher and Brisbane was expected in the near future after Saturday’s victory, a decision on his future has gone from one with no timeline, to imminent, as the Lions probed the 2017 All-Australian forward for a decision.
“The Lions will speak with Joe Daniher today ahead of their best and fairest to get more of a sense on his decision,” Twomey said earlier this afternoon.
Originally drafted as an Essendon father-son with pick 10 in the 2012 draft, Daniher played 108 games for the Bombers before moving to Brisbane at the end of 2020.
Across his 204 games at the top level, he kicked 395 goals – winning the leading goalkicker award four times at Essendon and twice at the Lions.
Speaking on RSN Radio on Wednesday, Daniher’s manager Adam Ramanauskas was in the dark on what 2025 looked like for the former Bomber – but suggested there was no hard and fast date he needed to make the decision by.
“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,” Ramanauskas said.
“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.”
Daniher finished his career with a stellar finals series, including kicking the final goal in Brisbane’s 60-point grand final thrashing of Sydney.
