AFL NEWS: Daniher contract controversy, 'bruise-free' Bombers and 'disrespectful' Saint slammed, Dogs gun signs long-term deal

Brisbane’s attempts to re-sign star forward Joe Daniher have hit a snag, with rival AFL clubs reportedly questioning the deal.

According to afl.com.au, the Lions are keen to extend Daniher’s contract, which expires at the end of 2023, by two more seasons.

However, given Daniher arrived at the Gabba from Essendon as a restricted free agent, the move has clubs questioning whether the Lions’ original deal for the wantaway forward was all above board.

Daniher was signed at the end of 2020 on a three-year deal worth reportedly $750,000 a year, which resulted in the Bombers receiving a compensation pick of 7 in that year’s draft (which slid to 9 on draft night due to Academy bids being matched by the Western Bulldogs and Sydney).

The Bombers would use that pick, one of three in the top ten, to draft promising youngster Archie Perkins.

Clubs have voiced their concerns to the AFL that Daniher’s original deal may have been a five-year contract in disguise, worth less than $750,000 a year, enabling the Lions to satisfy Daniher’s request and the Bombers to obtain high compensation.

Muddying the waters further, the Bombers had the option to match Brisbane’s offer for Daniher and force a trade, but declined to do so.

The AFL will not be publicly commenting on the situation, but are yet to give the Lions the green light to extend Daniher’s deal.

Joe Daniher celebrates a goal during the round one AFL match between the Brisbane Lions and the Port Adelaide Power. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

‘I’d be embarrassed’: Club legend’s brutal swipe at ‘bruise-free’ Bombers

Former Essendon great Matthew Lloyd has slammed the Bombers’ performance in their 66-point loss to Geelong on Saturday afternoon.

Speaking on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show, the club’s greatest ever goalkicker described the effort as ‘bruise-free’, singling out captain Dyson Heppell and reigning best and fairest winner Zach Merrett for particular criticism.

“I’d be embarrassed if I was a senior player at Essendon,” Lloyd said.

“The Bombers were really, really poor… I thought it was a bruise-free game of football. You don’t like saying that about any side, but that’s what the Bombers have to cop after yesterday.

“Contested possessions, they were smashed, clearances, they were smashed, yet they had more disposals.

“They got their game wrong yesterday. A lot of short, little passes where blokes were beefing up their disposals, but weren’t really effective at all.”

Particularly troubling to Lloyd were a pair of efforts in the first quarter, that allowed the Cats to take control of the game. In the first, star midfielder Merrett was blasted for a lack of defensive intensity that allowed Jeremy Cameron a free run on the wing.

“How hard did he [Merrett] want to chase when the score is 7-0?” Lloyd wondered.

“Jeremy Cameron kicks the ball, gets it back. Did Zach really want to dig in for his side early in the game? I wouldn’t have thought he did.”

Next was captain Heppell’s turn to cop it from Lloyd, for loose checking on Cats star Patrick Dangerfield that led directly to a goal.

“Still the score is 7-1 – Heppell’s down here with Patrick Dangerfield… the only excuse I can give Dyson is did he think the whistle had blown and the game was going to stop,” Lloyd said.

“Pretty poor there from another leader of the football club, and suddenly the game’s getting away from you from a confidence perspective.”

Lloyd’s comments echoed those made by Bombers coach Ben Rutten after the game, who conceded he was shocked by the abject display.

“It was a long way off anywhere near our best footy,” Rutten said.

“It’s something that you probably didn’t see coming. It’s so far from what we’ve been doing throughout our training, and certainly not what we stand for as a footy club.”

The Bombers will be looking to rebound against Brisbane at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.

‘Droppable offence’: Saint faces the axe for ‘unforgivable’ mistake

Former AFL player turned media analyst David King has put the blowtorch on St Kilda forward Jack Higgins, for a costly moment during the third quarter of their loss to Collingwood.

Higgins, who kicked a wayward 0.4 on the night to continue his trend of poor accuracy in front of goal, chose to ignore teammate Jade Gresham strolling into an open goal, instead opting to head for an outnumber Dan Butler further afield.

Alongside defensive efforts that King claimed were ‘really disrespectful’ to his fellow Saints, the former North Melbourne premiership player was scathing of Higgins’ Gresham snub.

“This for me is a droppable offence,” he said on Fox Footy’s First Crack.

“If he doesn’t see Gresham there then he’s limited as a player and you have to question whether he did.

“I think a player of his quality knows Gresham is there and he chose not to use him. I think that’s unforgivable, personally.”

With injured stars Zak Jones, Paddy Ryder, Hunter Clark and Jack Billings all set to return in coming weeks, Higgins’ spot could indeed come into jeopardy, especially as debutant Jack Hayes was one of the Saints’ shining lights on Friday night with three goals.

Dog for life: Star midfielder inks long-term deal

Western Bulldogs star Jack Macrae will wear red, white and blue until 2027 at least, after signing a five-year contract to stay at Whitten Oval.

The two-time All Australian was one of a number of gun Dogs set to come out of contract at the end of 2023, but the 27-year old says he was never likely to leave.

“This Club means an enormous amount to me and my family and I couldn’t be happier to commit my future to the Western Bulldogs,” Macrae said in a statement.

“I’m extremely passionate about the direction this club is taking, and I am so proud to wear the red, white and blue every week.

“It’s an exciting time to be involved at the Bulldogs. I am determined to help this side continue to strive for on-field success, but also drive a really strong culture within the playing group.”

Macrae, who was drafted by the Bulldogs with pick 6 in the 2012 draft, was named the Gary Ayres Medallist for the best player in last year’s finals series.

Teammates Josh Dunkley, Bailey Smith, Caleb Daniel, Tim English and Bailey Dale remain unsigned for 2023, with English in particular heavily linked to West Coast.