Joe Daniher's two-year contract extension with Brisbane, which was signed just one season after crossing to the club as a free agent from Essendon, remains under investigation by the AFL.
Despite having a further two years remaining on his original deal at the Lions, Brisbane announced in February that Daniher had agreed to stay at the Gabba until the end of 2025.
FULL STORY: Lions spearhead inks extension
The announcement shocked many across the league - Daniher himself claiming: "I went around his (coach Chris Fagan) back" to get the deal done - and AFL.com.au have since suggested several clubs contacted the AFL with concerns over the deal, with reporter Damian Barrett claiming the extension "wafted across as a bad smell in the noses of some other clubs".
After spending eight years at Essendon, the club his father Anthony played 118 games for between 1987 and 1994, Daniher moved to Brisbane in the 2020 free agency period on what was initially a three-year contract.
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The Bombers received Pick 7, which eventually slid to Pick 9 on draft night, as compensation for losing their star forward, which was based on the AFL's formula that determines the compensation a club receives when it loses a free agent.
The club used the selection on Archie Perkins, who would be nominated for the Rising Star in Round 17 of his debut season.
However, some clubs are now questioning if the initial three-year deal was actually a five-year agreement in the first place, with the recent extension a mere formality.
"Those clubs were wondering if the Daniher deal to leave Essendon and join the Lions had been a five-year deal from the outset, at say, less money per season compared with the speculated about-$750,000 per year attached to the three-year deal, would have been sufficient enough for such a lucrative draft pick," said Barret earlier this year.
"The Bombers, despite threatening all along to match Brisbane's deal, ultimately opted not to, more than comforted with the draft pick, which slid to No.9 and was used on young gun Archie Perkins."
The AFL has not commented on the situation, although it did say in February: "The AFL does not provide comment on individual player contracts and it is important to note all contracts and settlements lodged by all clubs for all players must be, and have been, approved by the AFL and are only approved if they are in accordance with AFL rules."
Daniher's contract extension is yet to be cleared by the league as an investigation continues.
