From his playing days through coaching, administration, executive roles and tireless campaigning, Neale Daniher was a prominent figure in Australian Rules football for almost half a century.
Daniher has died after an extraordinary 13-year battle with motor neurone disease (MND), during which he also dedicated himself to raising awareness and funds in search of a cure for the condition.
Having touched so many in his 65 years, Daniher will be honoured with a state funeral service, Premier Jacinta Allan revealed.
“The family have accepted that offer of a state funeral and arrangements will follow,” she said.
“Right now, my thoughts and love go to Jan and the family, and I know the thoughts and love of all Victorians will be going to the Daniher family as we hold them in our hearts today.”
Allan said Daniher would not only be remembered for his “incredible contribution” to AFL, but also for his determination to find a cure for MND.
“That has touched the lives of so, so many families around the nation, as was recognised during his Australian of the Year recognition,” she said.
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“We’re with [Neale’s family] right now, and we’ll continue to be with [them] as we keep up Neale’s fight against ‘the beast’ and find a cure for MND.”
Daniher’s death came just two weeks before the King’s Birthday AFL clash between Collingwood and Melbourne, which will play host to the 12th annual Big Freeze fundraiser for FightMND.
It is also less than a week after 30-year-old NRL star Jai Arrow revealed he was diagnosed with MND late last year.
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said Daniher’s death was “a devastating loss”.
Daniher’s death comes just two weeks before the 12th annual Big Freeze fundraiser for Fight MND. (Getty Images: Adam Trafford/AFL Photos)
“Not only for everyone fortunate enough to know him, but for everyone in our community for the selflessness that he represented,” he said.
Daniher played 11 of his 12 years in the VFL with Essendon before taking over as coach of the Melbourne Demons in 1998.
He took the Dees to the 2000 grand final against the Bombers, where they fell short of their first premiership since 1964.
Melbourne Football Club president Steven Smith said it was “impossible to encapsulate” Daniher’s impact.
Daniher (right) led the Demons to the 2000 AFL grand final. (Getty Images: Hamish Blair/ALLSPORT)
“His courage transcended the football field, and his determination inspired an entire country.
“Neale was not driven by personal motivation, he was driven by helping others, right until the very end.
“He was a true leader and the definition of what it means to be selfless.
“Neale was a man of action not words, and he embodied the saying, that he himself made famous, ‘The mark of a person is not what you say, but what you do.’
“He will be greatly missed by us all, but he will never be forgotten.”
After stepping away from the Demons in 2007, Daniher became the chief executive of the AFL Coaches’ Association and took up a role as football manager with the West Coast Eagles the following year.
In 2013, Daniher stepped away from the game due to health reasons, revealing the next year that he had been diagnosed with MND.
He dedicated the rest of his life to fighting “the beast”, not just for himself but for anyone else diagnosed, becoming the face of the first Big Freeze and raising millions for charity.
MND Australia chief executive Clare Sullivan said the community was “deeply saddened” to hear about the death of one of their “champion fighters”.
“The average survival time after diagnosis is 2.5 years … Neale defied those odds and continued to fight and raise awareness of MND,” she said.
“In the wake of Neale’s passing, Australia must continue to raise awareness for the MND community and advocate for better care, better support services, and continued investment into finding a cure.”
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