Essendon key forward Joe Daniher has used his time away from football to strengthen his leadership skills and contribute off-field to the side’s success.
The 25-year-old has played 11 games in two years after suffering from osteitis pubis. He underwent surgery on the injury, with the intention to return for the 2020 season.
Although the talented forward will continue to watch from the sidelines this season, he remains a vital member of the Bombers’ leadership group.
“There is an opportunity for me to learn and grow during this experience,” Daniher said on Fox Footy’s On The Mark.
“I am hoping now that I can really use this to have a greater impact for the rest of my career and use this as a real learning period.
“There have been frustrating days when the team is not going so well, when we weren’t performing in the way we would’ve liked. Those are the days when you sit back and think ‘would I have an impact if I was out there?’.
“To see the boys starting to get to the way that we want to play is really pleasing for me.
“I know that when I do come back, I will give great effort and a leadership-type role to our football club. Hopefully this group continues to grow, and we can move forward and do some special things.”
Daniher is making the most of his time on the sidelines. (Photo: AFL Photos)
After a slow start to the year, the Bombers have turned their season around, winning eight of the last 11 games, sitting in seventh position and putting themselves firmly in finals calculations.
Daniher said it was pleasing to see the group building.
“For me, it is hardest to watch when the team is not getting the results that we want. You see throughout the week how much effort and intensity the guys are putting in to try and get a result, and when it isn’t working it’s quite frustrating because you can’t impact that,” he said.
“To see the guys put together a month of footy where you can see the skeleton of what this footy club is trying to build, was really thrilling for me.
“The club is building a process that is going to last for a long period of time with sustained success.”
Daniher is over eight weeks into his rehabilitation program post-surgery, taking the opportunity last week to visit his surgeon in Sydney.
While away, the 25-year-old met with his long-time mentor and Swans chief executive Tom Harley.
Daniher clarified recent reports about his position at the Bombers, saying journalists had used his catch-up with Harley as “clickbait”.
“It was a great opportunity for me to ring a mentor of mine and catch up whilst I was in Sydney visiting my surgeon, which has been blown out of proportion a little bit.
“I’m really proud of the way that the footy club supports me to do things like this and we can squash that (reports of a trade to the Swans) and move on.
“For those who don’t know, Tom was a mentor of mine whilst I was at the AIS Academy for two years and a really important part of my football development then.
“I’m looking forward to getting on the road in my recovery and moving forward. I’m really excited about getting back out and playing for the Essendon Football Club because I haven’t had the opportunity to do that as much as I would’ve liked in recent times.”
