Matthew Lloyd Biography

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 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."

Brisbane head of coaching and development Peter Schwab has hit back at Matthew Lloyd after the Essendon great claimed the Brisbane Lions were an unhappy club.

Speaking on Melbourne radio station 3AW on Wednesday, Lloyd said the Lions' 131-point loss against Hawthorn in the NAB Challenge "might not be a one off".

"I think they're in for a world of pain this year. I'm not sure that they're happy," Lloyd said.

"New coach, a player exodus - I'm not sure that everything is that happy up there in Brisbane. I think they're in for a tough year."

Schwab, the new head of coaching and development at the Lions, hit back on Thursday, saying Lloyd had no right to make those calls from afar.

"I haven't seen Matty in Brisbane lately, so how would he know?" Schwab said.

"Matty was a great player, he's paid for his opinions and often opinions aren't based on facts.

"I don't think any person outside of Brisbane can talk about culture, because they don't know, they're not here."

Matthew Lloyd reveals that he turned down an option to extend his career at Collingwood after retiring from the Bombers.

"I value too much the Essendon Football Club and a 15-year career to go to another club at 32 years of age," Lloyd said.

"I did leave a year or so early but it was because I didn't want to finish my career in another team's colours because of the Essendon Football Club."

Former Essendon coach Matthew Knights has launched a stinging attack on former skipper Matthew Lloyd over his autobiography.

Knights suggested that Lloyd decided to call an end to his career after deciding that the forward line would no longer revolve around him.

I think Matthew's idea of flexibility is to run the show in the forward line and the ability to push people out of the way to set up his own scenario," Knights said.

Knights was also critical of Lloyd revealing sensitive details about the club including allegations that certain teammates had questionable work ethic.

"When you're a coach and when you're a captain you virtually take an oath that that stays in the inner sanctum, that's not public consumption," Knights said.

"As a coach you take that to your grave, and that's something I'm pretty passionate about. The fact that Lloydy decided to write a book to make some dollars doesn't cut it with me."

Matthew Lloyd will join Ray Allsopp, Neil Balme and Laurie Dwyer as AFL Life Members at next month's annual general meeting.

"The AFL has been privileged to watch a great career in Matthew Lloyd, that finished at the end of the 2009 season," AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou said.

"Matthew was a person who pulled people to our game with his skill and he will be missed by Essendon supporters and his achievements are recognised by all football fans.

Essendon will rename one end of Etihad Stadium after champion goal-kicker Matthew Lloyd for its home games from next season.

"We are very excited about being able to have one end of the ground named the Matthew Lloyd End and we think this is a very fitting tribute," Essendon chief executive Ian Robson said.