Joe Daniher

After a strong pre-season Daniher looked set for a big 2019 season however a mysterious calf injury sustained in training meant he would miss the first 4 rounds of the 2019 AFL season. Despite not being named for round 5, Daniher had been given a late call up for the Bombers in round 5 on Good Friday against the Kangaroos. As Daniher was not named on Essendon's initial list for the round the Bombers incurred a fine however Daniher proved his worth kicking 2 goals including one from over 55 metres out. After 2 matches, Daniher was ruled out for the remainder of 2019 due to a groin injury. Toward the conclusion of season 2019, Daniher had requested a trade to Sydney, but as Sydney could not satisfy Essendon's trade request. Daniher will remain at Essendon for season 2020.

Daniher started the 2018 AFL season substantially worse than the previous year averaging less than a goal a game and having an overall lesser impact on the competition. After round 7, scans revealed early onset of osteitis pubis causing Daniher to miss the rest of the season.

Daniher started the 2017 AFL season, reaching his potential as one of the best forwards in the league, winning both the Anzac Day Medal and the inaugural Tom Wills Medal in the Country Game against Geelong. He finished as the club's leading goal kicker for a fourth straight season, he received his debut All-Australian Team selection and won his first W. S. Crichton Medal.

In 2016, he continued to grow as a footballer and leader, being named in the clubs leadership group and finished the season with a career-high in marks (141) and goals (43). He won the club goal kicking award for a third consecutive year and was joint runner-up with James Kelly in the W.S. Crichton Medal.

Daniher entered the 2015 AFL season as the clubs spearhead up forward, a challenging task, considering it was only his third season of senior football. Despite kicking only 34 goals for the entire season, Joe showed improvement in many key areas of his game, especially accuracy at goal, this was due to the fact that former legend Matthew Lloyd helped him with this throughout the year. He led the club's goal kicking for a second consecutive season and showed more presence on the field.

Daniher was drafted by Essendon under the father-son rule, with the tenth overall selection in the 2012 national draft. He was also eligible to be drafted by Sydney, but chose to join the Bombers, where his brother Darcy Daniher was a team member at the time. He made his debut against Carlton in round 11, 2013. In his second game (round 12 against Gold Coast), he was named among the best players, kicking his first AFL goal and scoring a total of three goals in the match.

Joe Daniher (born 4 March 1994) is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).