{"id":170401,"date":"2025-09-26T13:03:29","date_gmt":"2025-09-26T13:03:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/170401\/"},"modified":"2025-09-26T13:03:29","modified_gmt":"2025-09-26T13:03:29","slug":"joe-daniher-opens-up-on-decision-to-retire-after-afl-premiership-in-rare-public-appearance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/170401\/","title":{"rendered":"Joe Daniher opens up on decision to retire after AFL premiership in rare public appearance"},"content":{"rendered":"

A new-look Joe Daniher has spoken publicly for the first time since since his shock AFL<\/a> retirement in a rare appearance.<\/p>\n

The notoriously private and media-shy figure stunned the footy world last year<\/a> when he announced in the aftermath of Brisbane\u2019s premiership victory over Sydney<\/a> that he would walk away from the game at just 30 years of age despite having a year to run on his lucrative contract.<\/p>\n

Daniher was instrumental in the Lions\u2019 success last year and in the three previous years he had been at the club, having kicked 58 goals in 2024, including four and the match-winner in the thrilling semi-final against GWS.<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today \"Download<\/a><\/p>\n

Appearing as a guest speaker at the Toyota AFL grand final eve luncheon in the Palladium at Crown \u2014 to the shock of the room and even host Hamish McLachlan, it must be said \u2014 Daniher looked noticeably different with no moustache and much shorter hair than his playing days.<\/p>\n

Despite claiming he had no awareness of Daniher\u2019s impending retirement in the post-match press conference of last year\u2019s grand final, Lions coach Chris Fagan famously revealed weeks later that the enigmatic key forward had already given him the heads-up 12 months earlier that it was coming.<\/p>\n

Asked on Friday afternoon about the thought process at the end of 2023 and then into 2024, Daniher confirmed he would have walked away if Brisbane beat Collingwood in the previous year\u2019s epic decider.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing part of that experience was incredible and it really was an exciting time for the football club,\u201d Daniher said of the 2023 loss.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom my perspective, that year, I thought that I was running out of time to continue playing the game, for where I was at and what I wanted to do.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought if we go well, we\u2019ve got a good chance in the finals, and planning to win the grand final, and then I\u2019d be happy to give it away.<\/p>\n

\"JoeJoe Daniher announced his retirement shortly after last year\u2019s grand final. Credit: Getty<\/p>\n

\u201cIt would have been nice to tell him I was retiring after we won the grand final (the next year), but I thought, \u2018I better give him the heads-up here that next year might be my last year\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf it all unravels and we don\u2019t go that well, I\u2019ll finish up. If we get to the finals and it doesn\u2019t work, I\u2019ll probably be done.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to give him that heads up and I wanted to give the football club some opportunity to start looking for another key forward because the shape of the club was amazing when I got there and I wanted it to be that when I left.<\/p>\n

\u201cThankfully, we dug ourselves out of a pretty big hole and got the opportunity to have another crack at it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daniher was mobbed by his Lions teammates when, in the dying stages of last year\u2019s grand final, he kicked the final goal of the game with his last ever kick as an AFL player.<\/p>\n

He said some players were aware at the time that it was his last game, but even he didn\u2019t know how many there were.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure how many exactly knew,\u201d Daniher said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere were probably a few coaches, certainly a lot of the administration and recruiting team.<\/p>\n

\u201cI probably told about eight or 10 players \u2014 and the way footy clubs work, that means probably most knew.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"DaniherDaniher was mobbed by emotional teammates after kicking this goal in the grand final. Credit: AAP<\/p>\n

Watching footage back of himself soaking up the win with his premiership medal around his neck, Daniher said: \u201cAt that point I thought it would\u2019ve been stupid to play on.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought, \u2018That\u2019s enough, that\u2019s about as good as it\u2019s going to get for me\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought it was as good as it was going to get for the Lions too, but here we are, they\u2019re into another one.<\/p>\n

\u201cI look forward to watching from the other side of the fence this time and enjoying it as a pure fan.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 31-year-old, who lives a few hours south of Brisbane, said he finished his career very content, particularly having climbed the premiership mountain as his final act.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s probably the moment I was after in my football career; I think I got it, and some,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I had a ball. I think that\u2019s what it\u2019s about: enjoying it.<\/p>\n

\u201cTwo great football clubs, so many great people, so many great lessons, and that\u2019s enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Diehard fans brave the elements for grand final parade<\/p>\n

2 min read<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

AFL veteran\u2019s next move confirmed a week after axing<\/p>\n

1 min read<\/p>\n

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