Essendon’s father-son recruit Joe Daniher believes the AFL experience of his older brother Darcy has provided him with perspective on the eve of his NAB Cup debut.
Darcy Daniher retired after four years in the AFL system, at the highest point he was duelling Brendan Fevola on the MCG and at his lowest he could hardly stand given his groin pain so severe.
“There are a lot of different stories about AFL working out for some people and not working out for others. But I look at my brother’s experience, he had four years in the game and loved every second of it and unfortunately it ended a bit sooner than he would have liked,” Joe Daniher said.
Joe, five years younger than Darcy, has the AFL world at his feet but his big brother provides a reminder of how quickly things can turn.
“For me it just shows that you need something else outside of football. I have had the opportunity to embark on that and learn from his experience. Hopefully I last as long as I can in the game,” Joe Daniher said.
Speaking at the AFL Players’ Association/AFL induction Camp earier this year Joe said it is reassuring to know what support services are available to help the players overcome the inevitable setbacks they will face. During the two-day camp players received workshops on managing setbacks, maintaining personal wellbeing, media training, off-field career development, road safety and finance.
“It has been a really good experience not only to spend time with the other kids that got drafted this year but to learn about the AFLPA and what they have to offer us as players and it has been good to get to know a different side of things ranging from twitter to financials,” he said.
”There is no excuse to put our head down in terms of off field study and embark on something outside of football.”
Daniher has just finished Year 12 and plans to combine university study with football in the future.
“I look to have 12 months off to settle and have a think about what I want to do and enrol in university. Hopefully I can find something that really interests me and I really look forward to pursuing in the future,” Daniher said.
Daniher was in a different position to most of the 105 attendees at the Induction Camp. Having committed to the Bombers more than a year ago as a father son pick (his father Anthony played 118 games for the club) he is itching to finally take the field.
“It has gone on for a little bit but it has been really good to tick off the first half of pre-season and really get stuck into the football side of things and as games are getting closer you can really start to think about them and get on with things.”
Standing at 201cm the ruckman/forward has amazing agility and after a standout Under 18 National Championships Daniher is arguably the most exciting prospect from the 2012 draft. However he aims to keep things pretty simple in his first year.
“I haven’t set too many goals as yet, I hope to get through the pre-season with a fit body and a strong body and when we get down to games I will sit down and write out some goals. At the moment it is just about ticking off the sessions.”
Daniher has overcome minor knee surgery in December and after kicking five goals in an Essendon intra-club game last week he is set to take the field in the Bombers NAB Cup fixture against Richmond in Wangaratta on Saturday afternoon.