Joe Daniher shrugs off pre-match nerves to record career-best night against Essendon
Joe Daniher slotted two goals and tallied a career-high 25 disposals against his former side as the Lions thumped Essendon by 57 points at The Gabba.
In his first meeting against the club where he previously spent eight seasons, Daniher found himself all over the ground and reminded fans just how good his marking ability can be with eight marks and nine intercepts in wet conditions.
After leaving the Bombers during last year’s trade period, all the talk in the lead-up to tonight’s match was on Daniher, who said he did his best to approach the match just like any other game.
“It was an interesting game, their form has been hard to get a read on and their best has been unbelievable, so we prepared for that,” Daniher told Channel Seven after the match.
“It wasn’t too bad [the nerves], I was a realist and I knew once the game started it would be a normal game of footy.
“As a key forward you don’t love to run out and see it bucketing down with rain, but luckily it dried up.
“It was nice to contribute tonight and I think the boys pressured really well and that’s something we need to keep improving on.”
Tonight’s win moves Brisbane into the eighth spot on the AFL ladder, while the Bombers slip to 14th with just one to their name through five games this year.
Lions coach Chris Fagan will no doubt be happy with midfielder and last year’s Brownlow Medal winner, Lachie Neale, who found looked to be back at his best following a slow start to the 2021 season.
Neale also kicked two goals for the Lions but racked up 38 disposals, while Daniel Rich (30 disposals) and Hugh McCluggage (32) both found plenty of the footy for the Lions.
