When in full flight, there are few players in the AFL that make fans stand and applaud like Joe Daniher
Part of a family dynasty that spans over 800 games at the highest level, Joe’s junior football was played with Aberfeldie in Melbourne’s north-west. Dad Anthony was heavily involved at Abers, continuing his involvement in the game after playing 100-plus games at the highest level with both Sydney and Essendon. Joe progressed to be part of the Calder Cannons program, the AIS-AFL program and representing Vic Metro at both Under 16 and Under 18 level.
Selected with Pick 10 under the Father-Son rule in the 2012 NAB AFL Draft, the 201 centimetre Daniher made his debut midway through 2013 before topping the Bombers goalkicking for the first time in 2014, highlighted by four goal haul in the Elimination Final against North Melbourne. He carried this form in to 2015 with a career-best six goals against Brisbane in Round 8 en route to a team high 34 majors for the season. Under new coach John Worsfold, Daniher kicked 43 goals in 2016 despite the Bombers’ last place finish, producing a couple of Mark of The Year contenders along the way. After finishing second in the club’s Best and Fairest, Daniher’s 2017 season took things to an exciting new peak – 65 goals for the year, the Mark of The Year, the Anzac Day medallist, All Australian and his first Crichton Medal as Essendon’s Best and Fairest. The win put him alongside uncles Neale and Terry as recipients of the the prestigious award. Despite injury issues over the ensuing seasons, Daniher reminded everyone of his talents with several explosive performances including his four goals on Anzac Day 2019 and three majors to get the Bombers over the line against Hawthorn in 2020. Daniher elected to join Brisbane via the 2020 AFL Free Agency period after 108 games and 191 goals with the Bombers. He joins a Lions team on the rise after two straight finals appearances and will be looking to help the club take the necessary steps towards success.
Daniher is involved in a number of enterprises, working with former Hawthorn Captain Ben Stratton and the team at the Napier Hotel on beer label Noble Boy. Joe is also one of the founding partners in bringing social and wellbeing collective Evryman to Australia and New Zealand. He is passionate about helping driving change for the better in a number of areas across society.
A Nike athlete for his entire AFL career, Daniher has worked to promote FightMND alongside his Uncle Neale in recent years.