Essendon Performance Coach Hayden Skipworth says Joe Daniher is one of the hardest working players at the Club and shapes as a ‘scary prospect’ for opposition defenders in the years to come.

Skipworth is responsible for the Bombers forward group and works closely with Daniher.

The 23-year-old key forward has booted 16 goals this season and has picked up an ANZAC Day Medal along the way.

His radar was off against Melbourne in round six, but Skipworth is confident Daniher’s hard work will pay off.

“He’s probably one of the hardest working guys along with Orazio Fantasia, Dyson Heppell and Zach Merrett – they’re probably the four guys that work the hardest on their game,” Skipworth told Bomber Radio.

“On top of his normal training, he’s probably doing four or five extra goal kicking sessions.

“The sessions are focused on different things so it might be 0-30 [metres out] one day, 30-50 one day and he works on his set-shot snaps.

“His vision is to be a really accurate goal kicking forward and he knows how important it is, we know how important it is.

“He cops a lot because he’s a young key forward who has got such a bright future.

“We’ve got full confidence that it will come together and we’ve just got to stay patient.”

Daniher has played 77 games for the Bombers, including one final, for a return of 124 goals.

By way of comparison, the man stationed in the opposite goal square this weekend, Tom Hawkins, kicked 102 goals in his first 77 games, with the Cats suffering just 13 losses in that time.

Across the first seven rounds of 2017, Daniher is averaging career high numbers in disposals, marks, handballs and inside 50s.

“He’s [Daniher] had some tough circumstances to deal with as well … the progression he’s made from year to year is unbelievable,” Skipworth said.

“His marks have gone up this year, he was third last year in contested marks across the competition with not a lot of inside 50s – we were 18^th for inside 50s.

“His disposals have gone up this year, he’s chopping out in the ruck which is helping the team where we can play a bit more mobile up forward and up the ground we can pick another midfielder.

“His contribution to the team just gets better and better, he’s certainly on the improve and he’s a scary prospect for opposition defenders in a few years, that’s for sure.”

While there may be confusion is some commentary boxes about what kick Daniher will opt for in certain situations, Skipworth said the Dons spearhead has a clear plan in place.

“Basically his routine is anything inside a 45 degree angle is a set shot, outside a 45 degree angle to the boundary line and in close on his right side is a right foot snap, a bit further back is a check-side … then on the left hand side in close is a left foot snap,” he said. 

“Last year he copped a bit with his snapping, [but] he did kick 8.2 and they were wide and long shots so to kick 80 per cent is incredible for a guy that just added it to its arsenal last year … we’re happy with the way that’s coming along.”