Joe Daniher opens up on decision to retire after AFL premiership in rare public appearance

A new-look Joe Daniher has spoken publicly for the first time since since his shock AFL retirement in a rare appearance.

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

Daniher was instrumental in the Lions’ 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.

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

Despite claiming he had no awareness of Daniher’s impending retirement in the post-match press conference of last year’s 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.

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’s epic decider.

“Being part of that experience was incredible and it really was an exciting time for the football club,” Daniher said of the 2023 loss.

“From 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.

“I thought if we go well, we’ve got a good chance in the finals, and planning to win the grand final, and then I’d be happy to give it away.

“It would have been nice to tell him I was retiring after we won the grand final (the next year), but I thought, ‘I better give him the heads-up here that next year might be my last year’.

“If it all unravels and we don’t go that well, I’ll finish up. If we get to the finals and it doesn’t work, I’ll probably be done.

“I 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.

“Thankfully, we dug ourselves out of a pretty big hole and got the opportunity to have another crack at it.”

Daniher was mobbed by his Lions teammates when, in the dying stages of last year’s grand final, he kicked the final goal of the game with his last ever kick as an AFL player.

He said some players were aware at the time that it was his last game, but even he didn’t know how many there were.

“I’m not sure how many exactly knew,” Daniher said.

“There were probably a few coaches, certainly a lot of the administration and recruiting team.

“I probably told about eight or 10 players — and the way footy clubs work, that means probably most knew.”

Watching footage back of himself soaking up the win with his premiership medal around his neck, Daniher said: “At that point I thought it would’ve been stupid to play on.

“I thought, ‘That’s enough, that’s about as good as it’s going to get for me’.

“I thought it was as good as it was going to get for the Lions too, but here we are, they’re into another one.

“I look forward to watching from the other side of the fence this time and enjoying it as a pure fan.”

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.

“That’s probably the moment I was after in my football career; I think I got it, and some,” he said.

“And I had a ball. I think that’s what it’s about: enjoying it.

“Two great football clubs, so many great people, so many great lessons, and that’s enough.”