A premiership win could spell the end of Brisbane Lions star Joe Daniher's playing career, with the forward contemplating retirement following the AFL grand final.
Daniher kicked three goals against Collingwood in last year's decider and is expected to be a key target again as the Lions look to avenge that loss against the Sydney Swans at the MCG.
The 30-year-old has battled injuries this season and Channel 7's Mitch Cleary has posted on social media that he considering a shock retirement call.
'Brisbane's Joe Daniher is considering his AFL future after tomorrow's Grand Final,' Cleary posted on X.
'It's understood the 30-year-old has spoken to those close to him about whether he will play on in 2025. Daniher is contracted for next year.'
Daniher began his AFL career playing for the Essendon Football Club from 2013 to 2020. He was recruited under the father-son rule as the tenth overall pick in the 2012 national draft.
Daniher played 108 games for Essendon, scoring 191 goals. He moved to the Brisbane Lions as a free agent in 2021.
Joe Daniher felt the pain of the 2023 grand final loss against Collingwood after kicking three goals in the AFL decider
While Daniher is only 30, his body has been battered and he struggled with injury this year
Daniher was selected in the All-Australian team in 2017. He won the Crichton Medal in 2017 and was Essendon's leading goalkicker from 2014 to 2017. He also won the AFL Mark of the Year award in 2017.
During his career, he has experienced significant injuries, notably missing most of the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
Daniher also kicked a pivotal goal in Brisbane's elimination final win against Richmond in 2022.
He has kicked 202 goals in 95 games for Brisbane — including four in the stunning come-from-behind win over GWS in the semi-final two weeks ago.
Lions coach Chris Fagan said Daniher is burning to win an AFL flag with Brisbane before he finishes his career
In a telling sign that Daniher might be considering retirement with a grand final win, Lions coach Chris Fagan named the forward alongside his 35-year-old teammate Dayne Zorko as players desperate to win a flag before retiring.
'I know they're desperate to get back there and have another crack,' he said.
'There is still a long way to go before we can do that. We play Geelong next week, a pretty damn good football club and side, who gave us a lesson in a preliminary final a couple of years ago.
'But I've got no doubt that drives them.
'I look at Dayne Zorko and it drives him, you know he's 35. He doesn't know how many years he's got left to play the game and he desperately wants to win one.
'I think that drove the group. Joey Daniher is the same. The guys in our team that are a little older, they lifted in that last quarter.'
