Joe Daniher would have retired if the Brisbane Lions had won last year’s AFL grand final.
But after a four-point loss to Collingwood the enigmatic forward told his coach Chris Fagan he’d stick around.
And the media-shy key forward was able to toast a premiership-winning career at Thursday’s end-of-season dinner after confirming his retirement earlier in the day.
“Always champing at the bit for a bit of media and just never seemed to fall my way,” Daniher joked before thanking former club Essendon and Brisbane.
“Thanks so much for embracing me.
“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 had earlier revealed to AAP he’d known for more than a year, since they spoke after that Magpies loss, that Daniher was serious about cutting short his career.
“He said to me, ‘You know if we had have won this week I was going to retire’,” Fagan told the crowd at the club’s end-of-season function.
“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.”
Rumours had swirled about the 30-year-old weighing up a retirement call since the eve of last Saturday’s season decider.
He has called time after a total of 204 games with the Lions and Essendon.
Daniher ended on a high, capping a stellar individual finals series with 2.4 from 16 disposals in an influential role in the Lions’ 60-point defeat of Sydney.
He added eight marks and four clearances against Sydney, and was mobbed by celebrating teammates after kicking the final goal of the game.
Daniher kicked eight goals across four cut-throat finals and stepped up in the ruck after Oscar McInerney was injured in the preliminary final.
He played a key role as the fifth-placed Lions became only the second team to win the flag from outside the top four under the current finals system.
“Joe is a generational type of player that will go down as one of the best forwards to have played AFL,” Brisbane football manager 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.
“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.”
Daniher played 96 games for Brisbane after joining the club for the 2021 season.
He also played 108 games in eight seasons at Essendon, having been drafted under the father-son rule.
His father Anthony Daniher played 118 games with the Bombers and 115 with the Swans.
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.
Co-captain Lachie Neale polled 73 votes to edge out fellow All-Australian Dayne Zorko by one vote, making it four titles in six Lions seasons and six in nine since his first of two for Fremantle.
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.
LIONS’ BEST AND FAIREST TOP 10
Lachie Neale (73 votes), Dayne Zorko (72), Josh Dunkley (71), Hugh McCluggage, Darcy Wilmot (61), Ryan Lester (60), Harris Andrews (56), Jarrod Berry (56), Joe Daniher (56), Oscar McInerney (54).
