‘Considering his future’: Joe Daniher reportedly weighing bombshell call after GF

Brisbane Lions key forward Joe Daniher is reportedly mulling his AFL future ahead of Saturday’s grand final against the Sydney Swans.

It is understood the 30-year-old will take stock of his professional career following the decider, per Seven reporter Mitch Cleary on Friday.

Herald Sun reporter Jon Ralph on Saturday morning said “if Brisbane was to win this premiership, he’d be much more likely to call it quits”.

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“Joey Daniher is considering his football future. It’s real. It’s certainly not media speculation,” Ralph told Fox Footy.

“I don’t think he wanted to do it in this speculation – I think he just wanted to walk away a month later and just quietly into the night.

“I’ve spoken to Brisbane and certainly their official line to Fox Footy is that he’s ‘considering the shape of his life after football with his family’. But as they say, he’s contracted until 2025 and they’re very hopeful he’ll be able to play on. He’s due $1 million … but he’s never been defined by football, he’s certainly never been defined by money.

“People would say ‘why is this coming out now’? As soon as Brian Taylor speculated on Adelaide radio that a big retirement announcement was coming, it was always going to come out.”

Daniher, who is contracted for next season, will play his 27th game of the season against the Swans after playing 26 last year.

Just a fortnight ago, Daniher was Brisbane’s hero in its semi-final comeback against the GWS Giants, booting four goals including the matchwinner in the waning stages of the fourth quarter.

He also crucially smothered a kick in the last quarter of the Lions’ preliminary final win over Geelong that led to Callum Ah Chee’s go-ahead goal with two minutes left.

Triple premiership Tiger Jack Riewoldt says he’d be surprised if Daniher retired if the Lions claimed the 2024 flag.

“He lives in Byron Bay and in the shadows a little bit and stays away (from the limelight). But you just wouldn’t want it leaking Grand Final week,” Riewoldt told Fox Footy. “You’d want every focus to be on the Grand Final. It’s just a story at the moment and I’m pretty sure Joe Daniher will be able to park it.”

“If the Lions win today and you get a taste of success, there is no way you’re retiring once you’ve gone to the top of the mountain because you just get this taste of what it’s like. The Lions aren’t going to be falling off the cliff any time soon, they’ve got a superstar team in all aspects of what they’re about. Once you win one, your mind goes straight to winning two.”

The Calder Cannons product was the No. 10 overall draft pick in 2012 by Essendon and played eight seasons with the Bombers before jumping ship to Brisbane at the end of 2020.

Daniher played a combined 15 games over his final three years at Essendon but has showcased his durability since arriving in Springfield, not playing fewer than 19 games in a season since 2021.

The long-kicking left-footer’s best season came in 2017 with the Dons when he kicked 65 goals over 23 games. He has booted 56 with the Lions this year.