A chance to play with his old schoolmates has seen Harvey Daniher link up with Wagga Tigers – the club where his uncle, Terry, oversaw a dynasty 20 years ago.
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Daniher has spent his last two years at school in Melbourne, where he played under 18s for Aberfeldie in the Essendon District Football League, and a couple of TAC Cup games with Calder Cannons.
Now back in Wagga, he opted for Tigers rather than a return to Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes, who were coached by his father Chris last season.
“He said it’s my decision and to play wherever I think I can play my best football and where I’ll enjoy my football the most,” Daniher junior said.
“But, yeah, he wanted me to go there (to MCUE).”
The 18-year old might get a close-up look at the Goannas in just over a week.
A foot injury kept him out of Tigers’ first practice match last week, but he’s hoping to be right for their engagement with MCUE on April 2.
“I’m aiming for that but it just depends on the Giants’ academy because they’ve got a game in two weeks as well,” he said.
Hoping to gain an opportunity with GWS is a reminder that the teenager hasn’t given up on his dream of going further with his football, particularly after seeing cousin Jock Cornell and good mate Matt Kennedy drafted last year.
“There’s definitely hunger there, to get where they are.
“I’m still wanting to make it but it’s not the end of the world if I don’t,” he said.
Daniher’s focus is on making an impression at Tigers, where the defender’s been earmarked for a new role by new coach Shaun Campbell.
“He’s a massive get – he’s a big boy and he’s going to be a massive in for us when we’ve got him,” Campbell said.
“Just another big body up there and he’ll take a bit of the heat off John Buchanan and some of the other forwards too, so they should have a field day really.”
Daniher said he was impressed by Campbell and Tigers’ new Canberra signings, Rob Tuohey and Dale Walker, in their game against Tuggeranong last weekend.
Tigers prevailed in a low-scoring affair at Maher Oval, with Walker at centre-half-back and Tuohey on a back flank before going forward to bring direction to the forward line.
Jim Carroll, was also back in a Tigers jumper and Campbell was pleased with the way his side looked in his first hit-out as coach.
“It’s exciting – you’ve got to be pretty happy when other RFL teams are getting smashed by the Canberra teams and we’re winning,” Campbell said.
“It’s always a good sign.”
