Joe Daniher has celebrated his breakthrough premiership after the Brisbane Lions dominated the AFL grand final.
The key forward finished with two goals and four behinds to his name and let loose when he kicked his second major late in the contest.
Leaping towards the crowd with his fist in the air, the 30-year-old was mobbed by overjoyed teammates.
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“It was a beautiful feeling, mate, something I’ll look back on for sure,” Daniher told Channel 7.
“To have the game done in the last quarter and be able to enjoy it with your teammates was something special.”
Daniher entered the game with thoughts of retirement in the back of his mind.
But he has yet to touch on whether Saturday’s triumph will be the final game of his career.
At one point in the post-match celebrations he was spotted enjoying a brief look around the MCG while his wife Adelle, flanked by their two children, took a photo.
His family — including father Anthony and uncle Neale, with Lions fans around their necks — were spotted several times looking emotional in the crowd.
Daniher joined Brisbane at the end of 2020 and has enjoyed a second lease on life having had his time at Essendon cruelled by injury for years.
“I’m one of the lucky ones, I came here when the foundation was set,” Daniher said.
“The club was in an amazing position, it had obviously come from a long way back. A lot of people deserve this, a lot more than a few of us who jumped on a bit late.
“So pleased for the whole group, the whole footy club, the whole support base.”
Daniher praised the efforts of the young players — the likes of Will Ashcroft and Logan Morris — who energised Brisbane.
“I think for our younger players to come in, particularly most of them coming in halfway through the season or a bit before, they’ve just done an amazing job,” he said.
“Every test they’ve been up for and they’ve brought so much energy to the group. We’re lucky to have them, they performed again today.”
Daniher was one of two former Essendon players to win the flag on Saturday.
Conor McKenna started as Brisbane’s substitute and enjoyed the last 10 minutes on the field.
The pair remain close and shared a ute together at the parade on Friday, but McKenna has received no hint from Daniher about the future.
“Joe doesn’t even know what he’ll do,” McKenna told 7NEWS in the victorious Brisbane rooms.
“He’ll take a week or so and whatever he wants to do he can do. He’s accomplished everything he needs to now and he can just ride off into the sunset if he wants.”
Fellow Lions star Charlie Cameron was also unsure what the future held for Daniher.
“We’ll enjoy the moments together,” Cameron said.
“It’s been very special to play with Joe for the last four years now, he’s brought so much to our footy club.”
Lions forward Callum Ah Chee hailed Daniher as “one of the greatest human beings you could probably ever meet”.
“He’s one that doesn’t really like to listen to the noise, he sort of stays away,” Ah Chee told AAP.
“To be able to embrace him and to play football with him has been so special.”
Meanwhile, the success secured McKenna’s place in history as just the fourth Irish player to win an AFL premiership — after Tadhg Kennelly, Zach Tuohy and Mark O’Connor.
McKenna is also only the second after Kennelly to win a grand final and an All-Ireland championship medal.
He initially retired from the AFL in 2020 and returned home to win the Gaelic title before deciding to return to Australia for a second crack with Brisbane.
“Unbelievable. Obviously got so close last year, this year we got written off, no one would thought we’d get here,” McKenna said.
“It’s just crazy. It’s surreal. Still has to soak in properly but unbelievable.”
With his country’s flag wrapped around his shoulders, McKenna said the flag justified his decision to pick the Lions.
“I thought I picked the best team but to be in two grand finals in two years, it’s crazy, and the club’s getting better,” he said.
“There’s young players coming through, a lot of players injured this year, so it’s definitely the right decision.
“I play for my family and my club back home, without them I wouldn’t be here. I’m just so proud what they’ve done for me. It’s all for them.”
McKenna had about 20 family and friends at the MCG, including his mum and dad, and said he will return to Ireland next week to keep the celebrations rolling — before another tilt in 2025.
– with AAP