ERRATIC goalkicking was part of the Joe Daniher package in 2014 but with the help of specialist kicking coach Matthew Lloyd, the Essendon forward has devised a more "natural" set-shot routine he hopes will result in a lift in his conversion rate.
Last year, Daniher kicked 28 goals and 20 behinds in 21 games. But according to Champion Data, the young Bomber had 14 other missed shots which left him with an overall conversion rate of 45 per cent.
His conversion rate was well below fellow key forwards Taylor Walker (2014 accuracy of 56.7 per cent), Tom Hawkins (55.7 per cent) and Lance Franklin (53.7 per cent). However, he was on a similar level to Travis Cloke (46.4 per cent).
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At times last season, Daniher – who now has a career conversion rate of 41 per cent – appeared to lose confidence in his finishing ability.
Enter Lloyd, who has worked extensively with the tall forward on honing his goalkicking technique at training this pre-season.
Lloyd, a Bombers legend who kicked 926 goals in 270 games, has urged Daniher to go back to basics in finding a routine that works for him.
"My kicking last year was just a little bit erratic and it wasn't consistent," Daniher told AFL.com.au at Clarke Oval in Sunbury, on Essendon's Australia Post Community Camp.
"So we went back and found something that was really natural and something that can hold up at any distance, or any angle.
"But it's not going to be fixed in two or three months. It's going to be something I've got to keep working on throughout my career."
Being able to do it at training under little pressure is one thing. But being able to execute under fatigue, in front of 80,000 screaming fans at the MCG, is another.
That's why Lloyd and Daniher have tried to simulate match conditions at training.
After each drill, however tough it may be, Daniher has a ball booted to him so that he can practice finishing in front of goal at varying levels of fatigue.
"The more shots at goal I get at training, the better," Daniher, 20, said.
"Right now we're in a huge training block so after every drill we're pretty much exhausted.
"For me to kick under that sort of fatigue [is really beneficial]."
Joe Daniher says he's ready to impose himself more regularly after two exciting years. Picture: AFL Media
The No.10 selection in the 2012 NAB AFL Draft as a father-son pick (the son of Anthony), Daniher stamped himself as a player of the future in the Bombers' elimination finals loss to North Melbourne last season.
Against quality defenders in Scott Thompson and Nathan Grima, the 201cm forward came of age, lighting up the MCG with four goals.
Daniher has now played 26 senior games and feels ready to start imposing himself more frequently.
"Last season I started slowly and had some ups and downs. But by the end of the year I felt like I could play senior footy and felt like I belonged out there," Daniher said.
"I sort of wished that there had been a couple more weeks to go (in the season) because I was really enjoying footy towards the end of last year.
"I felt like I'd learnt so much throughout the year and I was starting to put things into place."
Daniher said his first finals experience has made him hungry for more.
"It's good for our club to get in there and make finals, but realistically we're not there to just make up the numbers," he said.
"We want to play finals and win finals and be a really strong footy club."
