AFL coaches side-by-side to support Daniher’s MND fight

ON-FIELD rivalries will be put aside as every AFL coach takes an icy plunge to support Neale Daniher’s fight to find a cure for motor neurone disease, marking the ex-Melbourne coach’s final year leading FightMND’s Big Freeze.

Neale Daniher with Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley and Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin, outside the MCG. Picture: David Caird

FOOTY legend Neale Daniher will today lead a sea of supporters into the MCG as the AFL community salutes his extraordinary campaign to find a cure for motor neurone disease.

Tens of thousands of fans packing the stadium for the match between Collingwood and Melbourne will see all 18 league coaches take an icy plunge for Fight­MND’s Big Freeze 4.

“It really is overwhelming, and it gives people suffering from MND great hope,’’ Daniher said on Sunday.

“With the help of the footy community, we might just find a cure for MND, and that will change the world for many people.’’

DANIHER’S FUNDRAISING HELPS AUSTRALIA LEAD WORLD IN MND RESEARCH

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Neale Daniher with Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley and Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin, outside the MCG. Picture: David Caird

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Richmond’s Damien Hardwick will be first down the slide, followed by Pies coach Nathan Buckley and Demons coach Simon Goodwin.

“It’s a small thing that we can do for a great cause,’’ Goodwin said.

Of Daniher, himself a former Melbourne coach, Goodwin said: “Neale is a very special person to everybody in the footy community, and to do this on game day will be something really special. It’s incredibly important to us.

“We are really proud of Neale’s contribution to our club, and proud of the message he continues to drive.’’

Brisbane coach Chris Fagan, a close friend of ­Daniher, said: “Through his positive actions, Neale has made me fully understand that life goes on, and to make the most of it while you are here.

“He has made me smile and feel gratitude for all that I have.

“I am sure he has made hundreds of thousands of Australians feel the same way.’’

Daniher, who was diagnosed with MND four years ago, co-founded the charity alongside Dr Ian Davis and the late champion tennis player Angie Cunningham.

But he now plans to step aside to concentrate on his own health fight.

Collingwood skipper Scott Pendlebury and Melbourne captain Nathan Jones prepare for Big Freeze 4. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

FightMND chief executive Jamie Howden said Daniher’s contribution had been enormous and an army of supporters would carry on his legacy.

“We will continue the fight, working towards a cure,’’ Mr Howden said.

“FightMND has been able to shine a spotlight on to those suffering from the disease and also the many other state and national bodies working to provide care and support.’’

The federal government will match, dollar for dollar up to $2 million, the funds raised today. This is expected to push the total funding pool since the charity was established to more than $34 million.

So far, almost $6.6 million has been set aside for clinical trials, $6.8 million for drug development, $2.5 million for care equipment and $4.5 million for a world-first drug screening project.

The Victorian government is also contributing $300,000 to FightMND, having last year provided $3 million for Florey Institute research on potential new treatments.

Florey Institute Associate Professor Bradley Turner said the funding had cleared the way for Australian patients to be involved in international clinical trials. And Melbourne University researchers have been able to develop and deliver a new drug.

Premier Daniel Andrews said: “Neale has dedicated this precious time in his life to ­motivating all of us to find a cure for motor neurone disease. Together, we can support those suffering, their families, and fund the research that will one day cure MND.”

Late last year, Daniher became the first of 200 patients to offer their own skin cells to be “reprogrammed’’ by scientists for the drug screening Prof Turner said was the largest of its kind in the world.

With Lleyton Hewitt at the top of the slide last year. . Picture: Michael Klein

He said: “It’s rewarding to see so many MND patients willing to get involved in each research program.’’

Fans will begin the day with the Zurich Walk to the ’G, which begins at Federation Square from 1.15pm

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NEED TO KNOW

11.30am: FightMND co-founder Neale Daniher to address fans at Federation Square.

1.15pm: Walk To The ’G. Daniher will lead a sea of footy fans across William Barak Bridge to the MCG.

1.30pm: Gates open at the MCG.

2pm: Big Freeze 4 starts with Richmond premiership coach Damien Hardwick set to take the icy plunge first.

VISIT: fightmnd.org.au to donate and support your coach

DANIHER: ‘FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS, FAGES’

BRISBANE coach Chris Fagan says he has Neale Daniher to thank for helping him forge a successful coaching career.

Fagan, who will be among the coaches to take part in today’s Big Freeze ice challenge, said Daniher had championed his career since they forged a friendship at the Melbourne Football Club.

“From a personal perspective, I really owe Neale a lot,’’ he said.

“He gave me my first job in AFL as a reserves coach for Melbourne in 1998 and has been a constant source of encouragement and feedback.’’

It was through Daniher’s encouragement that he applied for the Brisbane coaching role — a position he secured in 2016.

“He looked me in the eye and said: ‘You only live once Fages, follow your dreams and don’t have any regrets’.

“It’s hard not to take notice when someone in Neale’s situation says something like that,’’ he said.

The Daniher family. Picture: Alex Coppel

NOW SLIDING INTO SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Jesper Fjeldstad

SOUTH Australia will be the first state to host an extension of Neale Daniher’s Big Freeze with the Adelaide Fight­MND at the Port Adelaide and Bulldogs game on Thursday night.

Beanies will be sold at the Power’s game against the Western Bulldogs and also in Perth on June 21 when the ­Eagles play the Bombers.

Both of South Australia’s senior coaches, Port Adelaide’s Ken Hinkley and Adelaide’s Don Pyke, have spoken passionately about motor neurone disease.

Hinkley said it had been an easy decision to help the cause.

“It’s a great initiative by Neale, one that we’re all really happy to be supportive of,” Hinkley said. “And one that we look forward to getting a bit cold on.”

Pyke lost his father, well-known sports scientist and WAFL footballer Frank, to the disease in 2011.

Fremantle coach Ross Lyon lost his mother to the illness.