But Daniher, who was drafted to Essendon in 2012 before making his AFL debut the following season when the Bombers were embroiled in a drugs scandal, thanked all those at Tullamarine for their input to his decade-long AFL career.

The 30-year-old noted the tough period experienced by Essendon. In 2016 the Bombers won three matches and collected the wooden spoon when 34 current and former players were suspended for the entire season for their part in the scandal.

The cohort of players, which did not include Daniher, were found guilty of doping offences. The Court of Arbitration for Sport was comfortably satisfied that the players had taken the banned substance thymosin beta-4 in 2012, the season before Daniher made his debut.

Daniher played 16 matches for Essendon in 2016 when the club’s list was stripped of top-level talent and the Bombers turned to top-up players. Daniher crossed to Brisbane for the 2021 season and played in two grand finals including this year’s premiership.

The versatile big man thanked the Lions for welcoming him and said he played a “small part” in Brisbane’s remarkable flag, which was essentially an unthinkable prospect during their knock-out semi-final, when they climbed off the canvas to reel in the Giants’ 44-point late in the third quarter.

“Always champing at the bit for a bit of media,” Daniher joked before thanking former clubs 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 lauded Daniher as a finals specialist. His heroics will forever be remembered after starring late in the stunning comeback semi-final win over GWS .

Daniher booted the final two goals of the game, including a difficult shot from the left forward pocket, as Brisbane snatched victory by five points. Daniher was also one of the club’s key players in the grand final demolition of Sydney.

“We love you. You’ll always be a Brisbane Lions premiership player,” Fagan told Daniher in front of the crowd.

“All the best with what you do in the future.”

Fagan acknowledged Daniher’s telling contribution to the Lions over the past four seasons. Dynamic Daniher’s high-profile switch from Essendon noticeably bolstered Brisbane’s list.

“He hates this,” Fagan said, asking for Daniher to stand in front of the Brisbane supporters.

“He bloody retired on us today, but what a fantastic contribution you’ve made to our footy club, mate, since you’ve been here these last four years.

“And the thing you specialise in is finals, is playing well in finals.

“This year was a bit different for you. You kicked some goals for us, but you also had to play in the ruck as well.

“When you had to, you did that job really, really well.”

In walking away from AFL football, Daniher faces a challenge tougher than anything he encountered on the field.

Daniher ended more than a week of speculation when he announced last Saturday’s grand final win was his last game at the elite level.

According to his dad Anthony, Joe leaves the AFL with a smile on his face and the support of his family.

But the Lions premiership player will now have to face family matriarch Edna Daniher and explain his decision.

“The biggest challenge Joe has got is how to explain to his 90-year-old grandma, Edna, why he is not playing next year,” Anthony told SEN with a laugh on Thursday.

“That is the next big challenge. She will be scratching her head (saying) ‘what are you doing?’

“If Jim [Joe’s grandfather] was still alive, he would be saying the same thing.”

Daniher was contracted to the Lions for next season on big money, but his father has no doubt he is happy with his decision and won’t have any regrets.

“[He’s] done and dusted I would say,” Anthony said.

Anthony added that Joe’s focus would be on his partner Adelle and two young children.

“He has a beautiful daughter, a beautiful son, and they are both up and about, so in 10 to 15 years’ time, who knows who could be running about kicking a footy,” Anthony said.

Lions football boss Danny Daly said the Lions were aware from late in the season it was likely Daniher would retire.

But he joked on Thursday that club officials made a last attempt to re-sign Daniher during their premiership celebrations.

“I think we all knew that this news would come at some stage, even though we tried to get him to sign a coaster on Monday for another year,” Daly told AFL Trade Radio.

Daniher called time on his top-flight career with 395 goals to his name across 12 seasons. In addition to winning a premiership this year, he was an All-Australian in 2017, won Essendon’s best and fairest, the AFL’s Mark of the Year, and the Anzac Medal that same year, and was also a six-time leading goalkicker across his stints with the Bombers and Lions.

“I retire knowing I gave my absolute all to the Brisbane Lions and Essendon, and I am extremely proud of what I achieved individually and as [part of] a team,” Daniher said in a Lions statement.

“I am tremendously grateful for the opportunities given to me by both Brisbane and Essendon and I want to thank both clubs and their incredible fans for their support.

“It’s been an incredible journey here at the Brisbane Lions to go from a club that was really struggling at the bottom of the ladder to winning a premiership.

“I want to thank everyone that has played a part in my AFL career and helping me become the player and person I am today.”

The now 30-year-old started his career with Essendon, where his family has a storied history, as a father-son selection in the 2012 national draft.

Anthony Daniher played 115 games for the Swans and 118 for the Bombers, while Joe’s uncles Neale, Terry and Chris also played for Essendon. The four brothers famously played together in 1990.

Joe’s move to Brisbane was based in-part on an attempt to reduce the scrutiny of being a high-profile AFL player in Melbourne.

Daly said the club farewelled Daniher with mixed emotions.

“Joe is a generational type of player that will go down as one of the best forwards to have played AFL,” he 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.

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“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 has been a super-consistent player at Brisbane, playing virtually every match for the Lions after his final seasons at Essendon were marred by injury.

Carlton’s Charlie Curnow has won two of the past three Coleman Medals (2022 and 2023) and Jesse Hogan was this year’s leading goalkicker with 69 goals. But Daniher has booted 46, 39, 61 and 58 goals respectively since his move to the sunshine state.

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