AS SOON as Joe Daniher improves his goalkicking, the youngster will enter the conversation of the game's "elite" forwards, Essendon coach John Worsfold says.
The Bombers coach delivered a glowing appraisal of the "untapped" Daniher following another commanding performance from the 201cm key forward.
Daniher was one of his side’s best in the disappointing 82-point loss, presenting well both deep in attack and higher up the field to boot four goals and take 11 marks.
However, his set-shot kicking was again wayward; he missed one goal and sent two out on the full.
Worsfold said the 22-year-old had grown immensely this season, fighting to win his own possession in a side handicapped by the 12-month suspensions to the vast bulk of its talent.
"I’ve seen Joe Daniher grow massively towards the player we know he’s going to be," Worsfold said.
"(His greatest improvement has) been competing throughout four quarters; I think this is the first time he’s kicked four goals or more two weeks in a row - so that’s a big feather in his cap.
"You’re talking about a young man who’s playing in a team that doesn’t have the class of players that most clubs have moving the ball towards him and his fight and competitiveness has been outstanding.
"He could have had another 10 goals on the board this year, maybe 12, as he fixes his goal kicking … that’s putting him up into the elite category.
"He’ll keep improving as long as he wants to … he’s untapped at the amount, he’s still a development player really."
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He also singled out the leadership of Brendon Goddard and the work of young midfielder Zach Merrett.
The 20-year-old has averaged almost 30 possessions a game in 2016 and was his side’s best against the Crows with 31 disposals and eight inside 50s.
"His leadership and his ability is shining through but again he’s a development player, his best footy is definitely ahead of him," Worsfold said.
"I don’t think he’ll peak as a player for another year or two and then I expect we’ll see that for a number of years."
Halfway through the final term on Sunday the Bombers were staring down the barrel of a 20-goal defeat, only to find one last show of strength and kick four of the last five goals to bring the margin back down under 100 points.
WATCH: John Worsfold's full post-match press conference
Worsfold said the players were upset to lose again but they could sleep well knowing they fought the game out to the end.
"That was a massive thing for us, don’t underestimate that the guys are feeling it - they feel flat and they feel disappointed," he said.
"But the challenge is that they don’t want to give up, they want to try their best thought the course of whole games.
"I’m really pleased with the way the players stuck to the task."
