The much-hyped debut of youngster Joe Daniher took place on Friday night and the father/son selection has received glowing endorsements from both his coach and teammates.

Daniher finished with 15 disposals and 5 marks in his first match in the red and black, failing to kick a goal from his two opportunities in front of goal.

“It was the toughest thing I’ve had to do in my football career. I am just looking forward to the next few years at the football club,” Daniher said post match.

“The boys moved really well through the middle of the ground and that helped us up forward. Sometimes it doesn’t go your way and I’ll keep chipping away and hopefully get there.”

Coach James Hird was pleased with the performance of the youngster who wore the number 6 jumper made famous by his father Anthony.

“At the moment he knows that with his body he is going to have to learn to use that a bit better but on the ground I thought he really excelled,” Hird said.

“Joey got well beaten in marking contests early but I thought he really fought his way back into the game.”

“When the ball hit the ground he was able to really get back on it quickly and when Joe’s body develops you will see a really high marking, hard in the contest forward.”

Hird said it was likely that Daniher would line up on Saturday night against the Gold Coast Suns.

“We will certainly be playing him again, I thought he was reasonable tonight and so we are not in the habit of bringing guys in and throwing them out straight away,” he said.

“He has a lot to learn but there is so much talent there that we are excited about what we have to work with.”

Daniher’s teammates were impressed with what the 201cm big man added to the side.

“Every time he goes to mark the ball he looks so dangerous, he has a big arm span and I think in a couple of weeks Joe will kick a bag,” Jake Melksham said.

“He is really dangerous, if he can get his kicking right and once he starts to feel comfortable who knows what Joey will do.”

Dyson Heppell said the way Daniher had handled himself since being recruited to the club was first class.

“His personality and enthusiasm around the club is outstanding but his football ability is also amazing,” Heppell said.

“He is a big boy, can take a big grab and the way he has come into the club and trained, in terms of his professionalism has been a real highlight for me watching him come through.”

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