JOE DANIHER "can be anything" according to Essendon coach James Hird.

Hird made the assessment after the emerging forward booted a career-high six goals in his 34th AFL game in the Bombers' thumping 58-point win over the Brisbane Lions. He also hauled in eight marks, including five contested.

The six-goal haul eclipsed his previous best tally of four majors in last year's elimination final against North Melbourne. 

"I think Joe can be anything," Hird said in his post-match press conference.

"Joe Daniher has exceptional talent. If he continues to work hard and continues to do what he's doing with his work rate, he'll be an outstanding player for a long, long time."

The 21-year-old was dominant up forward throughout the contest against the Lions, taking full advantage of his matchup against undersized Lions defender Justin Clarke.

Hird said it was important that Daniher had not lost focus despite the external commentary around his development as a player and his goalkicking.

He praised the 201cm big man for his ability to maintain forward pressure in recent weeks.

"He's worked really hard on his game. Anytime you kick six goals is outstanding really," Hird said.

"Everyone around Melbourne's telling him how to do it and, 'He should be doing this and should be doing that.'

"He's blocked that out and he's focused on what he needs to do."

Daniher has worked tirelessly on his goalkicking with Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd.

He feels now that he has a set routine he can rely on, one not dissimilar to Lloyd's own measured run-up, which he produced to great effect against the Lions.

"We've been working on it for a while now, but I'm starting to feel a little bit more consistent and confident with it," Daniher said.

"I was a kid growing up and watched Lloydy play every week. Maybe that's where [the link] comes from.

"For me it was about getting back to a relatively normal kicking routine and to have something that looks the same has been really important."

The No.10 pick from the 2012 NAB AFL Draft as a father-son selection has now kicked 48 goals in 34 games for the Bombers.

His six majors also contributed to the Bombers' highest score in a game since round three, 2014, against Carlton.