Joe Daniher Biography

Neale Daniher's mission to find a cure for motor neurone disease is commemorated with a mural ahead of the ninth edition of the Big Freeze, painted in a Melbourne laneway by artist and friend Vincent Fantauzzo.

"After I met Neale the first time (close to 10 years ago), I left feeling like I could take the world on," Fantauzzo said.

"Neale has that effect on people and the way he promotes family and supportiveness and togetherness and fighting MND is just such an inspiration.

"I feel so privileged to be connected with his whole family and Neale."

Brisbane coach Chris Fagan reveals the extent to which Joe Daniher was hampered by a shoulder injury in the second half of the 2022 season.

"His shoulder would pop out once a week at some point in time, whether it be in the game or at training," Fagan said.

"It was a very brave effort by him to continue to play because he was putting the team first He wasn't putting his own reputation first because he couldn't play at the level he really wanted to."

The AFL is investigating Joe Daniher's recent contract extension with the Lions amid other clubs' concerns about the free agency compensation sent to Essendon in late 2020.

Clubs are wondering if the Daniher arrangement to join the Lions had been a five-year deal from the outset at less money per season compared to the speculated amount of $750,000 per year linked to the three-season term. Clubs are thus asking if a five-year deal, at less than $750,000 a season, would have been sufficient for pick No.7 under the free agency compensation formula.

Joe Daniher will be at Brisbane until at least the end of 2025 after agreeing to new terms with the Lions.

"That'll take me to a point in my career that will pretty much the end, if not close to it," he said.

"Now I can just really concentrate on football. It was the easiest decision for me and the club to get it done. I was keen to get it done and be in a position to not worry about it any longer."

Neale Daniher is inducted into Melbourne's Hall of Fame.

"He truly epitomises the Demon spirit. Neale's leadership, resilience and positive attitude, particularly in the eight years since being diagnosed with motor neurone disease, is remarkable," Melbourne president Kate Roffey said of Daniher.

Brisbane captain Dayne Zorko says Joe Daniher has brought a wealth of knowledge and leadership to the club.

"His knowledge and the way he conducts himself and helps other players has been first class. He's the sort of person that when he talks, everyone listens. He doesn't say a lot, but when he does it has so much meaning and power behind it," Zorko said about Daniher.

"He's getting more comfortable talking out more, which is great, and he's really starting to take ownership of that forward line, which is an area we probably haven't had a lot of leadership in previous years."

Former Bomber and Lions recruit Joe Daniher recalls the day he sustained damage to his teeth after an encounter with his new Brisbane teammate Harris Andrews.

As the Lions and Bombers fought out a virtual wooden spoon battle at what was then Etihad Stadium in round 18 of 2016, a stray elbow from Andrews caught Daniher in the mouth.

"He does remind me every now and then, the chief (Andrews)," Daniher laughed following a training session.

"They're still a little bit crooked, there's still a little bit of work to do. I might wait until the footy career is over before I get them all cleaned up."

Joe Daniher is officially a Brisbane player after Essendon chooses not to match the Lions' free agency offer to the key forward.

Daniher will accept a three-year deal with Brisbane while the Bombers will receive a first-round pick as compensation.

"The chance to play for Essendon is something I dreamt about and aspired to growing up. I've made lifelong friendships there and it has helped shape me as a person," Daniher said.

"The move to Brisbane is a new challenge I'm really looking forward to. I can't wait to relocate to Queensland, get to work with my new teammates and coaches and build relationships across the club."

Joe Daniher is reported to have agreed to join Brisbane and is set to ask Essendon for a trade.

Essendon is prepared to offer free agent Joe Daniher a deal up to four years as he considers his future at the club.

The Bombers are remaining hopeful of keeping the goalkicker a year after his failed bid to be traded to Sydney and have put their deal on the table to the 26-year-old.

Joe Daniher will make his long-awaited return when the Bombers take on the Hawks, marking his first senior appearance in more than 15 months.

"We're really excited that Joe has done the work to be available and ready to step back up to play some footy. It's great for Joe and great for us and great for footy," Essendon coach John Worsfold said.

"It's been a really close partnership over a long period of time, getting to this point where Joe is ready to go."

Joe Daniher suffers another injury setback, with his return to the field delayed by a calf injury.

"During our rehabilitation skills session on the weekend, unfortunately, Joe felt some soreness in the calf, and we had that imaged (scanned) yesterday which confirmed a minor calf strain so that will mean he is off running for about 10 to 14 days," Essendon medico David Rundle said.

There remains no timeframe for Essendon star Joe Daniher to return from injury.

"This is about long-term for Joe to help him absolutely get over this so his career progresses at the rate we want rather than trying to get him back one or two weeks earlier," Essendon coach John Worsfold said.

"He's obviously a fair way off what we would say is the intensity to be ready to play, so we'll just keep progressing him up and that will take care of itself."

Essendon coach John Worsfold says the club will not fret over the future of Joe Daniher who was heavily linked to a potential trade in 2019.

"We would love Joey to be playing at Essendon next year but if he is not, then it's not the end of the world," Worsfold said.

"We understand Joe's a big name, he's a wonderful young man and a super footballer. Our focus is on getting him back and giving him a chance to play footy."

Zach Merrett is among a host of changes to the Bombers' 2020 leadership group, with wantaway forward Joe Daniher and Orazio Fantasia also cut from the squad.

The complete overhaul will see four fresh faces serve under captain Dyson Heppell in the five-man group this year including Devon Smith, Dylan Shiel, David Zaharakis and Michael Hurley.

"It's just a good opportunity to reflect on your leadership style. I know last year I wasn't in the group but I think my leadership grew throughout the year," Hurley said.

"I saw things slightly differently, became a bit of a conduit for some of the players who weren't in the leadership group and some of the younger players. Zach will find ways to grow. He's a smart young guy, driven, so I think his leadership will continue to grow and we'll see him as a leader in the future."

Joe Daniher is bound for Ireland in an attempt to rectify his groin troubles that threaten to impact a third consecutive season.

"With the rest of the playing group at Coffs Harbour for our pre-season training camp next week, it presented a good opportunity for Joe to return to Ireland to check in with his specialist," Bombers' head of football Dan Richardson said.

"Joe has been progressing well over recent weeks and we hope that this momentum will continue as we enter the next stages of our pre-season campaign."

Joe Daniher says frustration with injuries was the reason for his decision to request a trade to Sydney.

"I felt it was the best move for me to freshen up and have a fresh start ... The last couple of years have been really difficult from an injury point of view and I felt like a new start might help that," Daniher said.

"But I knew I was under contract so we had some really good conversations with (Essendon). They made me really aware it was going to be difficult to do and I was fully supportive of that and understood that and I'm happy to come back in today and ready to get stuck into it."

Sydney coach John Longmire says Essendon's demand for players in exchange for Joe Daniher was the sticking point that ultimately led to the trade falling through.

"We put what we thought was a good offer forward and that didn't get it done. Essendon wanted some younger players that we had and we weren't prepared to do that," Longmire said.

"In the end, we went to the last few minutes of the trade trying to work out how it could get done, but Essendon's priority, because he was a contracted player (was to keep him)."

Essendon vows to fight to keep Joe Daniher at the club beyond 2020, as Sydney prepares for another bid at the key forward when he becomes a free agent.

The blockbuster deal of the 2019 Trade Period fell over on the final day, with Daniher's wish to move to the Swans thwarted by the Bombers' asking price of a Sydney player.

Essendon list manager Adrian Dodoro said the best offer Essendon received was pick nine (which belonged to Carlton but may have made its way to Sydney as part of the Tom Papley deal) and a future first-round pick.

"In the end our philosophy was that we wanted a player to be a part of this, and they couldn't see their way around it. We respect that and they respect what our wishes were and we shake hands and have moved on," Dodoro said.

Dodoro said he had contacted Daniher an hour before the deadline and that the spearhead was "obviously a little bit disappointed".

"Joe is a free agent next year and we're going to fight like hell to retain him. But if we're in this position in 12 months' time then that's the nature of the game and you have to accept it and move on," Dodoro said.

Sydney football manager Charlie Gardiner said the Swans were not open to trading any of their players and confirmed they had not placed pick No.5 on the table.

"We went into the negotiation with what we thought was an attractive draft hand. We were open-minded with what a selection of picks might look like to satisfy Essendon. We were open to exploring a number of options or arrangements," Gardiner said.

"In the end it was made pretty clear to us that pick five and pick nine, or two first-round picks wasn't going to be enough so it's a bit moot now. We weren't able to satisfy Essendon with draft selections."

Bombers list manager Adrian Dodoro says Essendon remains determined to persuade Joe Daniher, 25, to stay at Bomberland ahead of the 2019 Trade Period deadline.

A persistent groin problem has restricted the big left-footer to just 11 games in the past two seasons.

"We don't think that this draft will replace a guy of Joey's ilk – 203 centimetres, a gun key forward; they're just so hard to find," Dodoro said.

"He's very, very highly valued at our club. We love him, we love the Daniher family, and we think that once we get over this period there's no reason why Joey can't fall back in love with the club."

Joe Daniher officially requests a trade to Sydney with Essendon stating that the club will not be giving him away easily.

"The club acknowledges the reason behind this request from Joe. However, he is a contracted player to the Essendon Football Club," Bombers list manager Adrian Dodoro said.

"He is a very highly regarded player at our club and we have advised Joe that ultimately we want him playing for the Bombers in 2020."

According to News Corp, Joe Daniher's decision to reconsider his playing future is squarely about whether he has the desire to play at all.

Speculation has mounted that the injury-plagued 25-year-old is contemplating a move to Sydney in response to the Bombers' treatment of his debilitating groin problems, but the real issue has been the effect his time on the sidelines has had on his motivation levels.

News Corp revealed Daniher commended the efforts of the club's medical department but had been mentally drained after he'd "gone to hell and back" while undergoing "really uncomfortable and really painful" treatment.

Daniher, who has a year to run on his contract at Essendon, is also believed to have been weighed down by the burden of expectation after playing just 11 games in the past two seasons, regularly playing in discomfort.

Daniher’s father, former Sydney and Essendon player Anthony Daniher, recently told an Essendon past players' function that his son would not depart Bomberland in the Trade Period.

Essendon is giving Joe Daniher space as he considers his future, but the Bombers haven't given up on keeping the star forward as a trade to Sydney looms.

"Joe's sitting back and looking at where he's got to from an injury perspective, and what he wants to get out of his football moving forward," Essendon chief executive Xavier Campbell said.

"We want to give him space. We're a club that supports its players to be themselves and we really value what he does, and he knows that we know how difficult that period has been for him.

"We would love to have him playing [for Essendon] next year. I probably expect him to be playing at Essendon next year, but we're just going through a process now."

Joe Daniher is taking time away from the club to consider his future as speculation mounts about where he will play in 2020.

"Joe's obviously got to make his mind up himself," teammate Zach Merrett said.

"I think he's made it pretty clear that he's going to have a bit of time away and decide what he wants to do with his footy going forward.

"So the club's fully supportive of Joe and whatever he does and I hope that he's hopefully at Essendon next year."

Sydney coach John Longmire confirms that Swans CEO Tom Harley met with star Essendon forward Joe Daniher.

"Joe was up here, as I understand it, seeing a surgeon. So they just caught up for a coffee," Longmire said.

"I don't think there's anything to be drawn into that. I think you're allowed in this industry to catch up with people from other clubs."

Joe Daniher will miss the rest of the 2019 season after re-injuring his groin.

"Joe has experienced a return in symptoms over recent weeks, including some loss of power and strength in his groin area," Essendon football manager Dan Richardson said..

"Last year Joe went through a conservative strength and rehabilitation program, which included rest, and given the nature of this injury, we needed to explore a number of injury management options.

"After thorough consultation, it has been determined that the most likely course of action now is to treat the osteitis pubis injury through surgery, which will be confirmed following further specialist consultation later next week.

"While it's incredibly disappointing to lose a player of Joe's calibre for the remainder of the season, the decision was made with the long-term health and welfare of Joe as the utmost priority."

Joe Daniher make his return from a calf injury this week via the VFL.

Daniher is yet to play an AFL match in 2019, after managing just seven games in 2018 due to osteitis pubis.

Joe Daniher's injury woes continue, with a calf tear ruling him out for up to six weeks.

"This is a little bit annoying, that it's come now. I would have loved to have been out there in round one with my teammates and playing for the football club," he said.

Dyson Heppell will again lead Essendon in 2019 as captain, with the Bombers opting for a smaller leadership group.

Zach Merrett (vice-captain), David Myers, Joe Daniher and Orazio Fantasia have also retained their places in the leadership group from last season, however key defensive pair Michael Hurley and Cale Hooker have dropped out.

"We feel all five men bring strong and diverse qualities that will ensure the growth of the playing group across a number of values and we hope this resonates on-field too," Essendon coach John Worsfold said.

"I'd also like to acknowledge both Cale Hooker and Michael Hurley who are terrific leaders and made a strong contribution to the group last season."

Essendon coach John Worsfold casts doubt on whether star forward Joe Daniher will be back from injury for the start of 2019.

"Joey's working really hard. That OP injury can be a chronic, crippling injury so our No.1 priority is that it doesn't linger and affect multiple seasons for Joey," Worsfold said.

"He's still coming into his prime years, so if the sake of him absolutely getting over this injury means it actually takes a little bit longer than him being absolutely ready for round one then we'll do that."

Neale Daniher has been named by the AFL as the fourth recipient of the John Kennedy award for lifetime service to the sport.

Daniher was honoured by the League on the occasion of the club's elimination final with Geelong at an MCG pre-match function.

Joe Daniher looks set to miss the rest of the 2018 home and away season as he continues to recover from osteitis pubis.

"Joe's taking it slow, but steady. We're not taking any shortcuts with his progressions," Bombers' physical performance manager Justin Crow said.

"I'd say that it would be unlikely, given the rate he's progressing at currently, that he'd return in the home and away season."

Doubts linger over Joe Daniher's hopes for a return in 2018 as he continues to battle osteitis pubis.

"What we found once we stopped him doing everything and rested him, he was a lot sorer than he was letting on," Essendon coach John Worsfold told 6PR radio.

"He's a long way off back playing. Our plan is that we don't want this turning into an injury that lingers into pre-season and into next year."

Spending much of his career being on the fringe of selection, Shaun McKernan says it was imperative for him to have a positive attitude despite the challenges he faced.

"I had to be in the right mindset when the opportunity was there so I couldn't let not getting picked drag me down," McKernan said.

The opportunity finally arose, when Joe Daniher was ruled out for at least a month with osteitis pubis and McKernan played his best game for the Bombers with 16 disposals and 3 goals.

"I don't want to just base my game around goals and kicks – I know there's other things in my game that I have to do for the team like competing long down the line and bringing the ball to ground," he said.

Essendon assistant coach Mark Harvey says Joe Daniher has been playing with a groin issue that is getting worse.

"I think (his groin has) been catching up on him," Harvey said.

"Over pre-season he had a groin issue, so we managed his training, but he got that right and strengthened the area around that.

"But I think with the dynamics of playing since round one, it may be concerning him a little more than it was."

Essendon has been playing Joe Daniher in the ruck in 2018 in addition to his usual role as a key forward.

"We've very conscious that as a young key position player, he carries a pretty big workload in the forward line and we're looking after his long-term career by not overworking him through the ruck as well," Essendon coach John Worsfold said.

"We're constantly searching for that balance, but Joe, in the last couple of weeks, has gone into the ruck more than he did in the first couple of rounds."

Brendon Goddard chooses not to be part of Essendon's leadership group this season despite being voted in by his peers.

Orazio Fantasia and David Myers have joined captain Dyson Heppell, Zach Merrett, Cale Hooker, Joe Daniher and Michael Hurley in the seven-man group.

"It's wonderful to see Dyson voted back in as captain and his leadership style clearly resonates with his teammates," Essendon coach John Worsfold said.

"Dyson consistently displays care for his teammates, leads by example and is extremely driven to see this group achieve the success they are striving for."

Joe Daniher wins his first Crichton Medal as Essendon's best and fairest in a tight count.

Daniher, 23, gathered 451 votes to become the third Daniher to win the prestigious award, after uncles Neale and Terry were successful in 1981 and 1982 respectively.

Former captain and 2013 winner Brendon Goddard (441 votes) finished second, while current captain and 2014 winner Dyson Heppell (440) came third in his terrific comeback from a year-long doping suspension.

"I’m lucky to have been a be a part of it (the club) since I was 13-14 and to live out my dream, I’m really excited about where we’re going as a club and there’s some really exciting times ahead," Daniher said.

"There’s some beautiful people at this club, some beautiful people at the top of the chain and I’m looking forward to some great things happening in the future."

The AFL is considering taking judging for the Mark and Goal of the Year out of the fans' hands.

This follows controversy when Essendon forward Joe Daniher beat Collingwood high-flyer and hot favourite Jeremy Howe to win the 2017 Mark of the Year.

Howe's skyscraping effort over Melbourne swingman Tom McDonald in the Queen's Birthday game was widely acclaimed and considered as much a certainty to win.

"With the greatest respect to Joe Daniher, who's a star, an All Australian and a great mark, that mark (Howe's) was the best mark, I think – and quite clearly," AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said.

"You can't have that. I know that's quite definitive, but I think if you've got a mark that's clearly better and it doesn't win, then the system has to be reviewed."

Joe Daniher wins the 2017 Mark of the Year for his screamer against St Kilda in round 17.

Daniher rose above former teammate Jake Carlisle in an amazing effort to take the footy about four metres off the ground.

Lewis Young says it was a surreal experience to play on Joe Daniher when the Bulldogs faced Essendon.

As the youngest player in the competition, Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has given the him some of the toughest assignments a defender can receive.

"Growing up an Essendon fan, I'd followed him his whole career," Young told AFL.com.au.

"It's very hard to stop those types of players but it's more about doing your role then shut down those A-grade forwards.

"Not a lot of players can stop big Joey when he's up in the air, so just being able back yourself really helps."

Joe Daniher signs a new three-year deal with Essendon that will keep him at the club until the end of 2020.

"I'm really excited to commit to the club for a further three years," Daniher said.

"I'm confident and proud of the direction we're going as a football club, we have a great group of players who are working extremely hard to take the club where it needs to be."

Out of contract Joe Daniher stays tight-lipped on the progress of his new deal with Essendon.

"My management is doing a fantastic job behind closed doors and allowing me to just enjoy football and play football," Daniher said.

"It's a process that has gone on for a long time. I've been here since I was a 15-year-old kid (as part of the Bombers' father-son academy). I'll let them do their job and I'll concentrate on playing football."

Essendon coach John Worsfold says the club's priority is getting Joe Daniher re-signed ahead of recruiting free agents.

Daniher's form spike in recent weeks – he has booted five goals in each of the Bombers' wins in the past two rounds – has seen his value further increase as Essendon continue negotiations to sign him beyond 2017.

The 23-year-old is perhaps the competition's most exciting young forward and, having already booted 26 goals this season, is on track for a career-best year.

"He's the No.1 priority and we're working really hard to get Joey signed," Worsfold said.

"I'm not too interested in worrying about anyone else until we get Joey locked away."

Joe Daniher's intensity is questioned after he was seen jovially putting his arms around former teammate Michael Hibberd in Essendon's clash against Melbourne.

"He can hug as many people as he wants if he's playing good footy," Essendon coach John Worsfold said.

"If that was influencing his ability to perform, then I would expect that he wouldn't be doing it.

"I wasn't a hugger myself but we're all different."

Former Essendon goalkicking specialist Ben Perkins says it would only take several sessions with Joe Daniher to correct the Bomber's wayward form in front of goal.

"When you see Daniher get the ball and he's going to have a shot for goal, you can see his mind is racing and thinking 'I wonder what is going to happen this time' and then he tosses the coin up inside his head," Perkins said.

"It wouldn't take many hours at all to get right. Once he understands the process he'll be sensational."

Just five days after a match-winning performance against Collingwood that earned him the Anzac Day Medal, Joe Daniher produces a wasteful kicking performance that cost his team dearly.

The 23-year-old booted 1.6 for the match, including 0.5 in the second term and two shots that finished out of bounds on the full as the Bombers fell to the Demons by 38 points at Etihad Stadium.

Essendon coach John Worsfold said Daniher was doing the required work and he was not concerned with his goalkicking program, but the Bombers needed to know what went wrong on Sunday.

"Joe will ongoing review his program and we will have to (ask) is this currently the best program," Worsfold said.

"In-season he has a lot less time to just go out and kick for goal, but I know Joe does that.

"We will support him as he keeps doing it."

Joe Daniher wins the Anzac Medal after playing one of the most influential games of his 75-game career in Essendon's 18-point win over Collingwood at the MCG.

In addition to his three goals, Daniher had three goal assists, pumped the Bombers inside their forward 50 a team-high six times, took half of his eight marks outside the Dons' forward 50, had three hit-outs and even managed two running bounces.

"He's achieved a lot already for his age, but he's still developing and learning the game and growing," Essendon coach John Worsfold said of Daniher.

"But he's working hard, that's the thing that we're looking for. He wants to get better through hard work, not through just waiting and biding time."

Essendon is confident young stars Joe Daniher and Darcy Parish will sign new contracts once the AFL's industrial dispute is resolved.

David Zaharakis's deal also runs out at this season but Bombers list manager Adrian Dodoro is confident the CBA stoush is all that is stopping the trio from inking new deals.

"Player agents do like to wait, and they like to make sure that they maximise everything, and that's fair enough - they've got to look after themselves and their client," Dodoro said.

"There's a couple of contracts that are on hold at the moment until the CBA comes out, and you have to respect that."

Joe Daniher says he is focuses on his footy, not his contract.

Daniher is into his fifth season with Essendon, with some rival list managers suggesting his next long-term deal could be worth between $600-700,000.

"My management and the club have a fantastic relationship, and they have had right throughout my career. I'm pretty sure that'll just play out behind closed doors and I can just concentrate on kicking the footy," Daniher said.

"Things like that don't bother me too much, I'm pretty concerned about playing on the weekend, playing my role for the team and getting as many wins as possible."

Dyson Heppell is named Essendon skipper for 2017.

Heppell will be supported by Cale Hooker and Zach Merrett, who have been named vice-captains.

Former skipper Jobe Watson retains a spot in the club's leadership group which will also include Brendon Goddard, Michael Hurley and Joe Daniher.

“It’s an absolute honour to be named the captain of this great club,” Heppell said.

"Jobe (Watson) has been a tremendous captain - he’s one of the great leaders of our game, and he’s been a wonderful mentor to me over the journey."

Essendon forwards coach Hayden Skipworth says Joe Daniher and Cale Hooker have the potential to dominate the competition with contested marking.

"I have sort of put the challenge to those guys to be two of the best contested marks in the comp," Skipworth said.

"Joey finished fourth last year (playing) by himself with not a lot of (forward 50) entries, not a lot of quality entries either, so if we can get a higher volume of entries and better entries we see him and Cale together becoming a real weapon for the side."

Joe Daniher will be available for the start of the club's pre-season despite undergoing wrist surgery.

"It shouldn't have any major impact on his pre-season. He had it through the season but it was one of those ones that nagged away so he's had that fixed up," Essendon's football manager Rob Kerr said.

"He'll be right and it shouldn't impact on his pre-season at all."

Essendon midfielder Zach Merrett has become the club's youngest best and fairest winner in 35 years after claiming this year's Crichton Medal.

The third-year Bomber was rewarded for his outstanding season by being the runaway winner of his first club best and fairest award with 378 votes, ahead of leading goalkicker Joe Daniher and top-up player James Kelly, who shared second place on 273 votes.

"Zach was our most consistent performer this season and is a deserving winner of the 2016 Crichton Medal," Essendon coach John Worsfold said.

"Zach played some exceptional football this season, and that was built off the back of his professionalism, living elite standards and a hunger to improve and develop with each game."

Joe Daniher says he will be spending his summer break identifying a new goalkicking approach that will hold up long-term.

"My goalkicking is a work in progress and I know I need to improve … I'm under no illusions that that needs to happen quick smart," Daniher said.

"I'll do a lot of work in the off-season and hopefully come back next year with a clear-cut routine.

"Off-season is a chance for me to improve all facets of my game. You've got more time and more resources to do it then.

"I've got a lot of time to work on it and come back in pre-season with something really clear that's going to hold up for 2017."

Essendon coach Josh Worsfold says it's up to Joe Daniher to find a way to improve his set shots.

Daniher has booted 38.30 this season and will be desperate to improve his accuracy during the off-season.

The forward's set-shot confidence has shrivelled to the point where he is now often opting for a round-the-body snap instead of the traditional drop punt, even after marking straight in front of the posts.

"I don't know what the answer is long term ... don't know what Joe's aims will be. He'll come to that conclusion," Worsfold said.

"I had a lot of people tell me when Josh Kennedy was doing his stutter kick that he should stop doing it. I said if he's kicking the goals, I don't really care what it looks like.

"I'm sorry if you're not happy with it, but if he's kicking goals with the accuracy we expect, then it doesn't matter."

Jake Long says he is looking forward to an AFL career playing with fellow father-son Essendon players Joe Daniher and Jobe Watson.

"Hopefully we can get some chemistry going in the future," Long said after tallying 13 disposals in his debut against Gold Coast.

"The reception from the crowd was amazing. I think the Bomber fans have come out in numbers and it's great to see them all and the love that they give Joey and Jobe (Watson).

"I know they love Joey and Jobe - hopefully I can join that three and make a trio."

Essendon coach John Worsfold believes Joe Daniher will become elite as soon as he improves his goalkicking.

"You’re talking about a young man who’s playing in a team that doesn’t have the class of players that most clubs have moving the ball towards him and his fight and competitiveness has been outstanding," Worsfold said.

"He could have had another 10 goals on the board this year, maybe 12, as he fixes his goal kicking … that’s putting him up into the elite category.

"He’ll keep improving as long as he wants to … he’s untapped at the amount, he’s still a development player really."

Essendon coach John Worsfold says Joe Daniher needs to start nailing his chances as the Bombers' prime target in attack.

"He's struggling a bit at the moment, but it's not through lack of effort. If he keeps that effort up, he'll come out of this little patch a much stronger and better footballer," Worsfold said.

"It will happen for him. Not through hoping, but through continuing to work hard.

"That's his job now – he's got to nail them."

Emerging Bombers Zach Merrett and Joe Daniher have been named in the club's rejigged leadership group, which will feature rotating top-up players throughout the season.

Essendon was forced to change its leadership group when five members – captain Jobe Watson, vice-captain Dyson Heppell, David Myers, Cale Hooker and Michael Hurley – were suspended for the season for anti-doping breaches.

The remaining two members of the group that was announced in December, Brendon Goddard and Mark Baguley, have taken on the respective captain and vice-captaincy duties this year.

The bans left several vacancies, with Merrett, Daniher and James Gwilt added to leadership positions, and David Zaharakis reinstalled into the leadership group after being cut at the end of last season.

"Obviously development of our youngsters is a bit of a priority this year so it makes sense that we've got a couple of younger players who are held in pretty high regard by the group and they're emerging leaders," Essendon football manager Rob Kerr.

"Given the circumstances and given the exposure to the full leadership repertoire and what's involved in the senior leadership group level will no doubt hold them in good stead and fast-track their progress."

Matthew Lloyd will have no official role at Essendon in 2016, but is likely to maintain some connection with forward Joe Daniher.

"I've spoken to Joe, and Joe feels like he's really happy with the tools and the processes and systems, that Matt's put in place for him," Bombers coach John Worsfold said.

"So he's got that now, he knows all that stuff, so he's pretty well right to keep working on that.

"I have spoken to Matt, really around understanding that he felt it was going to clash too much with what his main role is in footy, in the media, and that's fully understandable."

Essendon coach James Hird says Joe Daniher will reap the rewards of hard work on his goalkicking within the next year and a half.

"Joe will have weeks where he'll kick poorly and weeks where he kicks well probably over the next 18 months. But he's working so hard on his goalkicking," Hird said.

"I'm confident within 18 months he'll be the best set shot in the competition because of the way he works on his game. We know he can mark the ball, we know he can compete, we know he's going to get enough opportunities."

Joe Daniher boots a career-high six goals in his 34th AFL game in the Bombers' thumping 58-point win over the Brisbane Lions. He also hauled in eight marks, including five contested.

"Joe Daniher has exceptional talent," Essendon coach James Hird said after the game.

"If he continues to work hard and continues to do what he's doing with his work rate, he'll be an outstanding player for a long, long time."

Daniher says he now has a set shot he can rely on.

"We've been working on it for a while now, but I'm starting to feel a little bit more consistent and confident with it," Daniher said.

"For me it was about getting back to a relatively normal kicking routine and to have something that looks the same has been really important."

Joe Daniher says he feels more confident lining up set shots now that his goalkicking radar has been fine-tuned by Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd.

"We've been working together for a few months now and I feel like I'm a little bit more confident with my goalkicking," Daniher said.

"He's done that a little bit (work on the mental side of goalkicking), but I feel like for us it's been working around my technique and making sure it's the same every time. That will help my consistency.

"I'm not quite as consistent as I would like just yet but it's going to be something I'm going to have to work on throughout my career."

Joe Daniher remains free to play in round one after being hit with a $1000 fine for striking Greater Western Sydney captain Phil Davis.

Daniher was reported for striking Davis during the fourth quarter of the Bombers' NAB Challenge loss to the Giants at Spotless Stadium after a clumsy spoiling attempt.

Joe Daniher says he is working on a set-shot routine when kicking for goal that will serve him in the long run.

"My kicking last year was just a little bit erratic and it wasn't consistent," Daniher said.

"So we went back and found something that was really natural and something that can hold up at any distance, or any angle.

"But it's not going to be fixed in two or three months. It's going to be something I've got to keep working on throughout my career."

Joe Daniher has revealed he's got 'back to basics' with his goal kicking technique under the tutelage of Essendon great Matthew Lloyd.

"It was probably just bringing it back to basics and starting from the start again," Daniher told Radio 3AW.

"I feel like I had a pretty natural kick growing up and as I got into the AFL I probably didn't have a set routine and it was about building that.

"We haven't completely changed my kicking style, it's just about tinkering with a few things to make it a little more consistent."

Brendon Goddard says Matthew Lloyd's return to Essendon as a specialist goalkicking coach is already reaping benefits, with young forward Joe Daniher refining his action this pre-season.

"They're working hard and I've seen some improvement with Joe in his goalkicking," Goddard said.

"They're doing a lot of work, twice a week with 'Lloydy'.

"It's good to have him back around the footy club. The Essendon faithful love him and just to have him back is a real positive."

Essendon coach Mark Thompson says Joe Daniher placed himself above the team by putting his hand up to play last week too soon after injury and the young forward is lucky to have held his place.

The 20-year-old Daniher had told Thompson he was ready to return from a collarbone injury, but had little impact in last week's loss to Richmond.

"It's all about team. If you make decision based on yourself and not the team then it's not looked upon that well and it becomes a disease," Thompson said.

"He's very apologetic. He's sorry and he knew he didn't play well. It might be a good thing he stayed in the team so he can redeem himself."

Joe Daniher will go under the knife this week to repair his fractured collar bone, but is still only expected to miss three weeks and be fit for Essendon's tilt at the finals.

"Joe will have a plate and screws inserted to strengthen his clavicle," club doctor Bruce Reid said.

"It's not invasive surgery and the positive news is it will shorten Joe's recovery period. I would say Joe could be back within three weeks."

Joe Daniher wins the round 12 NAB AFL Rising Star nomination after tallying 15 disposals and nine marks, six of which were contested.

"He has shown glimpses of his potential, he is young but he is a true professional. He works hard, he trains even harder and he takes the game on," Essendon coach Mark Thompson said about Daniher.

"It's exciting to see someone with a big future, and that's Joe. While he does still have a long way to go, we have no doubt he will help our football club for many years."

In only his first season, Joe Daniher will be used as back-up ruckman against North Melbourne in Essendon's season opener for 2014.

"We said we wouldn't do it last year and [in] his first game he played he went into the ruck and went better in the ruck," Essendon coach Mark Thompson said.

"As long as he looks after his knees - the ball-ups and the boundary throw-ins aren't a problem anymore - [it's] just a centre bounce really where you get that big clash."

Newly-appointed bombers strategy coach Neil Craig says he has been impressed with Joe Daniher's approach to training.

"I've seen a great improvement, even in my short time here, just by the way he goes about his training. The way he's starting to train now, he's actually starting to train like a man instead of a boy," Craig said.

"He's come out of a boys competition, a good under-18 competition, and he's now competing against hardened men. I've really enjoyed, in the short period of time, the strides Joe's taken in that area."

Joe Daniher says one of his goals for 2014 is to put on some weight and improve his strength.

"For me it's just about building a good base of fitness so I can compete with the better players in the competition," Daniher said.

"I'll try to get a little stronger and put on a few more kilos and hopefully that holds me in good stead to be a little more competitive at senior level."

Joe Daniher makes his AFL debut for Essendon at the MCG with 15 disposals (10 kicks and 5 handballs), 5 marks, a tackle and 1 hitouts in a 5-point win over Carlton.

Father-son selection Joe Daniher will make his debut for the Bombers against Carlton in round 11 after kicking 21 goals in 7 games in the VFL.

Essendon draftee Joe Daniher has had a minor knee cartilage operation and will be on a restricted training program in early January.

"He's had a minor 'scope to clean up a bit of cartilage that came loose from his patella," Essendon general manager of football operations Danny Corcoran said.

"He just cooled down after one of the sessions and felt a bit sore, and he just reported it to the doctors.

"They had a look and found there was a piece of floating cartilage that they needed to take out."

New Bomber Joe Daniher will wear the No. 6 jumper worn by his father Anthony.

"It doesn't really bother me what number's on my back, but it is nice to have a little bit of history behind it," Daniher said.

"Dad was happy with it. He was hoping I was comfortable with wearing the same number as him, but he knows I'll be fine with it and there's no added pressure that comes with the number.

"He's happy a little bit of tradition continues at the club. It's probably a bit nicer for the fans who saw him play and can see me play, but inside the family everybody is just hoping that I have every success."