The AFL premiers will need to find a solution after Daniher announced his retirement on Thursday.
The Brisbane Lions are expected to pursue a high-profile replacement after Joe Daniher announced his retirement on Thursday, with Tom Lynch’s name already being mentioned. Lions coach Chris Fagan revealed that Daniher had intended to retire in 2023 if they had beaten Collingwood in last year’s grand final.
However, their loss motivated him to continue, and the decision paid off when the Lions secured the premiership a year later. Now, speculation is growing over whether Brisbane will look to fill Daniher’s spot internally or target a major trade to bring in a marquee player from another club.
Discussing the situation on AFL Trade Radio, prominent reporter Damien Barrett suggested that Richmond veteran Tom Lynch would be an ideal target for the Brisbane Lions. Despite playing only eight games over the past two seasons due to injury, Lynch brings a wealth of experience and could be a valuable asset if he still has something left in the tank.
“The challenge now begins for the Lions,” Barrett stated. “They’re in their prime. They’ve reached the last two grand finals and have appeared in the past six finals series. Their current focus is winning premierships—that’s their model.
“With so many of their players in peak form, I believe they need to find the closest possible replacement for Joe. There’s a player who’s played just eight games in two years, but he’s a two-time premiership winner—Tom Lynch from Richmond Football Club.”
This suggests that, despite Lynch’s recent injury struggles, the Lions might see potential in bringing him in as a high-risk, high-reward option to replace Daniher.
Lachie Neale has responded to Joe Daniher’s AFL retirement, acknowledging that while some are predicting the Lions’ premiership to be the beginning of a long-term dynasty, they face a tough challenge ahead. Recent history shows that three of the last four premiers have failed to make the finals the following year. The only reigning champion to win a finals game the next season was Richmond in 2020.
However, Lions coach Chris Fagan remains quietly optimistic that the team can overcome Daniher’s departure and defy that trend. He draws confidence from his experience with Hawthorn when Buddy Franklin left for Sydney after the Hawks’ 2013 premiership win. Despite Franklin’s exit, Hawthorn defeated Sydney comfortably in the 2014 grand final and then went on to claim a third consecutive flag by beating West Coast the following year.
The Lions could opt for a short-term solution to fill the void left by Joe Daniher’s retirement, or they might rely on their current squad to adjust and handle the role in a different way. When asked how they would replace Daniher, Lachie Neale admitted on Thursday night at the club’s best and fairest event, “No idea yet.”
He mentioned potential options like Eric Hipwood, who has played that role before, as well as Logan Morris, Brandon Ryan, Darcy Fort, and Oscar McInerney. “Who knows?” Neale added.
Neale, who capped off his stellar season by winning his sixth club best and fairest—his fourth in six years at Brisbane after winning two at Fremantle—also highlighted that the team’s discussions about next season are already encouraging.
“The hunger in the group is strong,” he said. “We’ve got to get back to work… it’s easy to get found out. Collingwood this year, Geelong the year before won it and missed the finals a year after.”