AFL grand final: Joe Daniher’s future still unknown as Brisbane spearhead’s shock retirement looms

Mystery still surrounds the future of Brisbane premiership hero Joe Daniher as the Lions continue their glorious grand final celebrations.

Channel 7 football reporter Mitch Cleary revealed on Friday that Daniher was considering his playing future in the lead up to Saturday’s decider.

Those thoughts didn’t affect his performance, with the 30-year-old kicking two goals from 16 disposals in a strong performance as part of a lethal Brisbane forward line.

Daniher’s father Anthony said he expected his son to play on in 2025.

“He is just in a very happy place at the moment so he will keep going, he’s all right. He is that happy, it’s not funny, It’s a super (work-life) balance. People read into things but that’s OK,” Anthony Daniher told The Herald Sun.

“Joe is Joe and he’s good to write stories about so let it roll. When you win, you let it roll. (His future) will sort itself out so he will just soak this one up.

“It’s been hard work to get there and they missed out last year by so little. To get back and win it like that, I am so happy for the whole team. I am so happy for Joe. He has worked his arse off to get into this position and we will soak this one up and enjoy it.”

Brisbane co-captain Harris Andrews didn’t dismiss the speculation surrounding his teammate when asked on Sunday morning.

“That (the report) was all a bit of a shock for us. We’re so pumped for Joey, he’s a premiership player now,” Andrews told The Sunday Footy Show.

“He’s been massive for us. We absolutely love him. He’s someone I’ve really leaned on for my leadership over the last couple of years.

“He’s been incredible and super invested. We’re so pumped for him. However that plays out it’ll play out. We can’t control that, we know that Joey’s got a lot more going on than necessarily just football.”