The Brisbane Lions are referencing the Lance Franklin precedent as they look to buck an AFL premiers trend and overcome the sudden retirement of Joe Daniher. Daniher officially called time on his career on Thursday, signing off with a year still to go on his Lions contract but with a premiership medallion around his neck.

Brisbane Lions champion Joe Daniher has confirmed he will walk away from the AFL as a premiership winner, confirming his bombshell retirement from the game.

With or without Daniher, the Lions membership base is expected to grow on the back of the club’s premiership success, with Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner saying the team had outgrown the ageing Gabba, which sits about 36,000 fans when full.