AFL great farewelled after long battle with The Beast
AFL great and motor neurone disease warrior Neale Daniher will be farewelled at a state funeral in front of the fans he inspired throughout his decade-long campaign.
The man, who became a symbol of the fight against MND, died at his home on May 25, at the age of 65.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will preside over Daniher’s memorial service at his funeral on Wednesday, at the same hallowed ground of the MCG where he played and coached for Melbourne and Essendon.
Family, friends and former colleagues will also pay their respects to the much-loved football figure before he is sent off with a guard of honour.
Daniher was diagnosed with the incurable and fatal disease in 2013, which he called The Beast.
Although the average life expectancy was 27 months, he resisted for 13 years.
This confined him to a wheelchair and he lost his ability to speak, but his voice continued to grow as he devoted the rest of his life to raising money for medical research and advocating for other people suffering from the disease.
FightMND, the charity he co-founded, has devoted more than $141 million to medical research to find treatments and ultimately a cure.
Daniher has been named Australian of the Year for his contribution to leading the fight against MND in 2025, instilling hope in millions of Australians.
“It’s fair to say that there has never been an award that has been so unanimously accepted by every Australian,” Mr Albanese said in his speech to parliament honoring Daniher.
A record crowd packed the MCG on Monday, donning the distinctive FightMND blue berets for the annual Big Freeze match.
More than 88,000 fans attended the King’s Birthday match between Collingwood and Melbourne; Nearly 100,000 digital beanies were sold, raising $2.5 million, and Governor General Sam Mostyn was among those slipping into the ice bath.
Daniher is survived by his wife Jan, four children and six grandchildren.
He was one of 11 children raised by Jim and Edna Daniher on a farm in Ungarie, NSW; The family made history in 1990 when Neale played in the same Essendon team alongside brothers Terry, Anthony and Chris.
Knee injuries took a toll on Daniher’s playing career, but he continued to coach Melbourne for nearly a decade, earning the nickname The Priest.
He was a football manager on the West Coast when he was diagnosed with MND.
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