Joe Daniher’s blunder stuns AFL pundits but Lions forward redeems himself by booting four goals

Brisbane Lions were treated to the ‘full Joe Daniher experience’ on Saturday night, as the forward displayed the best and worst of his game during a bruising encounter against Port Adelaide.

Daniher kicked four goals as the Lions erased a 24-point deficit in the third quarter to defeat their fellow Grand Finals hopefuls 80-69 at the Gabba. 

The 28-year-old took several crucial marks and booted two goals in the fourth quarter, as Brisbane scored five majors to Port’s one to take control of the game. 

 Joe Daniher kicked four goals for the Lions as they defeated Port 80-69 on Saturday

While Daniher’s heroics in the final stanza proved crucial, the forward had a moment to forget just before half-time.

Having taken a crucial hanger in the goalsquare as the siren loomed, the former Essendon star inexplicably handballed the football to Nakia Cockatoo.

As the siren sounded almost immediately afterward, the brain fade meant Brisbane had no time to kick a goal and went back to the sheds trailing by four when they could have led by two instead. 

The Brisbane forward booted two majors in the final quarter as the Lions overcame a 24-point deficit to defeat Port at the Gabba in a bruising encounter

The 28-year-old took several stunning hangers against Port Adelaide on Saturday night

‘I have never seen anything like it,’ said Channel Nine AFL pundit Kane Cornes.

His colleague Mark Gottlieb, meanwhile, argued Daniher’s blunder and his four-goal tally were the ‘full Joe Daniher experience’. 

‘We’re getting the full Joe Daniher experience tonight. Entertaining as hell, but just as frustrating at times,’ he tweeted. 

Fox Footy pundit Tony Armstrong echoed the feelings, suggesting the forward’s showing on Saturday night summed him up as a player.

Channel Nine journalist Mark Gottlieb said the Lions forward’s blunder epitomised the ‘full Joe Daniher experience’

Ultimately Daniher’s four goals proved crucial in the Lions come-from-behind win

‘It’s almost like if you wanted to sum him up as a footballer it’s that five seconds of play before the half, he takes a big hanger, then doesn’t exactly think where he is for a second,’ the former Adelaide, Sydney and Collingwood player said.

‘But geez he brings a lot of joy to everyone with the way that he plays and the smile that he has on his face.’ 

Hawthorn legend Dermott Brereton noted Daniher’s unpredictable nature made him a box-office player. 

‘He brings theatre in it because you’re on the edge of your sitting thinking: “What is he going to do brilliantly next, what is he going to brilliant stuff up next?”,’ he said on Fox.

‘He brings you all the emotions in one evening of football.’