West Coast star Josh Kennedy is rightly lauded for leading the AFL’s Coleman Medal despite missing five games this season through injury.
But Essendon forward coach Hayden Skipworth says a factor in Joe Daniher’s outstanding year is going unnoticed.
Unlike most of the other Coleman contenders, Daniher plays as back-up ruckman as well as their No.1 key forward.
“He’s spent less time as a permanent forward out of all the top goalkickers,” Skipworth told AAP.
“If he plays permanent forward, he’s probably winning the Coleman by a fair bit at the moment.”
Heading into Sunday’s must-win games for West Coast and the Bombers, Kennedy leads Daniher by four goals at the top of the Coleman table.
Kennedy has kicked 64 and will probably win the award for the third-straight year.
Since overcoming a pre-season knee injury and his notorious goalkicking yips, Daniher has also enjoyed his best year.
After spraying 1.6 in the round-six loss to Melbourne, Daniher has kicked an impressive 47.18 from 15 games.
And Skipworth warns he will only keep improving.
“His improvement during the season has been enormous and his upside is really scary for opposition key defenders,” Skipworth said.
“I don’t want to put the pressure on him, but people don’t realise he’s 202cm and he can run, bend and evade tackles.
“For his size and the skill set and athletic ability he has, he’s only getting better.”
Daniher will again be crucial for Essendon in Sunday’s game against Fremantle at Etihad Stadium.
The Bombers are eighth and if they win, they play finals for the first time since 2014.
Lose, and they must hope St Kilda or West Coast do not win the later Sunday games.
Essendon will start warm favourites, especially given the Dockers have lost their last two games by 104 points.
But if Fremantle are able to challenge them, Skipworth notes Essendon have a recent track record of hanging tough, managing wins agsint North Melbourne, Carlton and Gold Coast in tough circumstances.
“We haven’t buckled under pressure, we’ve been able to get the job done,” Skipworth said.
“So that will give us confidence going into this week, if it is a close one, that we can hang in there and get the job done.”
Josh Green’s season-ending foot injury has kept Skipworth busy, particularly in the wake of fellow small forward Orazio Fantasia missing several weeks because of hamstring strain.
Travis Colyer will return to fill a small forward role and the Bombers also recalled veteran Jobe Watson, one of three Essendon veterans who are about to retire.
Brent Stanton announced his retirement on Thursday, joining Watson and James Kelly.
“He’s had a super career – (255) games – and he bleeds black and red,” Skipworth said of Stanton.