The Daniher family is mourning after tragic death of patriarch Jim Daniher
An emotional Neale Daniher says he spoke to his father Jim just hours before the Daniher family patriarch was killed in an accident on his property in southern NSW.
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Footy’s famous Daniher family is mourning its patriarch after the tragic death of Jim Daniher.
The father of former VFL and AFL stars Terry, Neale, Anthony and Chris and grandad of Essendon forward Joe died as a result of an accident on the family farm at Ungarie in rural NSW. He was 90 years old.
An emotional Neale Daniher confirmed his father’s sudden death today saying he had spoken to him only hours before.
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His father had lived on the same property his entire life.
“Dad was mentally sharp and fiercely independent and wanted to stay living on the farm with mum, the property where he was born in 1928,” Mr Daniher said.
“It sustained him and kept him alive but ultimately led to his passing and that’s the way he would have wanted it …
“He went out with his boots on.”
He said he had learned much from his father, who lived by actions more than words.
“His legacy will live on strong through his wife, Edna, their 11 children and families.”
Essendon players will wear black arm bands in a mark of respect to Mr Daniher for its match against North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium, in line with family wishes.
Specific detail about how the accident occurred were not released.
NSW Police said a report would be prepared for the coroner.
Mr Daniher had four sons and seven daughters with wife Edna and was instrumental in entrenching AFL in traditional rugby country in the Riverina.
He was a fine footballer in his own right, playing in a grand final for Ungarie in 1973 aged 44, alongside fresh faced son Terry, then 15.
But it was the tremendous talent of his four sons, who he helped steer to Essendon through candid chats with Kevin Sheedy at the family wheat and sheep farm, that helped put Ungarie on the map.
In one of football’s great stories, the Daniher brothers played a combined 752 matches including a famous game against St Kilda in 1990 when they all took the field together for the Bombers.
Essendon chief executive Xavier Campbell said he would be missed.
“It’s obviously a very sad time, and the club sends its sincere condolences to Edna, and the wider Daniher family,’’ he said.
“Jim touched the lives of many and our thoughts are also with the wider Ungarie community, a place held so dearly for the Daniher family.”
So great has the Daniher contribution been to Ungarie, near West Wyalong and a six and a half-hour drive from Melbourne, that a giant football weighing about 800kg was unveiled in the town last year.
Its plaque reads: “Ungarie NSW, home of the Danihers.”