AFL legend, former Essendon player and Melbourne coach, FightMND campaigner remembered at MCG
It’s not often you go to a funeral where half the congregation wears berets.
A state funeral attended mainly by the Prime Minister, the Premier of Victoria, the AFL Commission chairman and leaders from all political persuasions and football clubs.
But it was fitting to celebrate the life of Neale Daniher, one of 11 children, husband to Jan, father of four (Bec, Ben, Loz and Luke) and grandfather of six and grandfather of his seventh.
Informal among formalities. Jokes amidst the sadness. Love expressed without varnish. Pop music to break the seriousness. And 1000 of those famous beanies representing Daniher’s Big Freeze campaign.
The man who became 2025’s Australian of the Year for his tireless campaign to raise awareness and funds to combat motor neurone disease (the disease for which he was diagnosed in 2013 when his life expectancy was 27 months) remained grounded until the end.
Already famous as part of the Daniher clan, playing alongside his brothers Terry, Anthony and former Melbourne coach Chris at Essendon, ‘The Priest’ – as he was known while coaching – became a revered hero in his fight against the ‘monster’ (MND).
But his wife of 41 years, Jan, spoke from the heart about why their life is so enjoyable, with a touching tribute.
“MND does not define Neale. Neale is defined by his character. His honesty, his humility, his honesty, his strength and resilience, his sharp intelligence, his cheeky smile, his love for wonderful family or friends… this is how we will remember Neale. I love you, my dear,” she said.
The ceremony was about Neale the man, not the campaigner, as Neale’s mother Edna sat among her huge clan in the members’ stand at the MCG.
It was about a man who grew up on the dusty pastures of Ungarie, NSW, with a love of sport, music, family and learning. One of his mottos was to watch movies for fun and read to learn.
Anthony said his brother “expanded our world.”
That world expanded so much that legendary singer Paul Kelly took the stage Leaps and Boundaries Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, one of the speakers at Daniher’s funeral, told mourners: “He was truly one of the most positive people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.”
The ceremony was filled with hilarious memories that Daniher’s children would delight in with uproarious laughter.
Like the day his son Ben met the full force of his father’s honesty and intelligence after returning to a local football field; his physical condition was not at its peak following the COVID-19 lockdowns. Neale’s simple but meaningful question “How much do you weigh?” was.
In defence, Ben took the liberty of making a reference to Carlton champion Patrick Cripps, suggesting his situation was appropriate given he currently plays as an inside midfielder, but was met with the reply: “You’re not ‘Crippa’ and Crippa’s not fat.”
The Melbourne players he coached laughed the loudest at this story; they remembered their own encounter with a man who undoubtedly received an extra helping of honesty gene.
David Neitz, who captained Melbourne for eight seasons under Daniher, joined team-mate Paul Hopgood in recalling his coaching style that could only be described as “tough but fair”.
They remembered moments when it put everything into perspective, like when drifter Jeff White broke his turn and the room fell silent. He didn’t say a word as he walked towards the Esky, grabbed a beer and announced, “The party’s just getting started, boys.”
Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan recalled starting his AFL career as a development coach with Daniher.
When Fagan found his feet as a fellow at the Melbourne Football Club, he was keeping quiet in meetings until Daniher gave him some sage advice: “Listen here Fages, I didn’t bring you here just to swipe cones”.
Fagan revealed that he keeps at least one beret from the FightMND campaign every year to remind himself to never get upset.
When Daniher announced that he had been diagnosed with MND, he recalled, it came with a stern warning that they would never discuss the disease again. For the next 13 years, Daniher kept his promise to Fagan as he spread the word about the “monster” around the world.
“I reached out to him over and over again and not once, not once in those 13 years has he ever talked about MND or complained about what was happening to him,” Fagan said. “I think it’s absolutely amazing because I don’t think I could show the strength that he does.”
His daughter Bec, who worked with Daniher on the FightMND campaign, said her father had a saying: “If you don’t like something change it, if you can’t change it then change the way you think about it.”
Daniher did this and more.
The congregation of family, friends, politicians, football buddies, old friends and ordinary people made their way from the members’ bench at the MCG towards Daniher’s Road and applauded as the cortege passed.
A Melbourne and Australian icon had passed.
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