‘At the very minimum’: How AFL greats want to honour Neale Daniher

Past and present AFL stars have opened up on Neale Daniher’s incredible legacy, with calls growing for a more permanent way to immortalise his feats.

Neale Daniher with Tim Membrey of the Magpies and Christian Salem of the Demons ahead of today’s King’s Birthday clash at the MCG. Picture: Michael Klein

Past and present AFL stars have opened up on Neale Daniher’s incredible legacy — and called for a statue of the Australian of the Year to be erected outside the MCG.

A huge crowd will assemble at the ‘G before Monday’s Melbourne-Collingwood clash, to watch a squad of celebrity sliders push fundraising efforts for Daniher’s Fight MND charity to new ground.

But as organisers eye a new crowd and fundraising record in the 11th instalment of Big Freeze at the ‘G, calls are growing for a lasting memorial to immortalise Daniher’s inspiring feats on and off the footy field.

AFL Hall of Famer Garry Lyon told the Herald Sun Daniher’s courageous deeds in the face of adversity — including raising more than $115m for research in hope of finding a cure — deserved respect.

“He will be remembered, and he’s now remembered as one of the most profound figures in football,’’ he said.

“When you can stack him up, his legacy against most of the really, really substantive, influential figures in football — Neale Daniher’s name sits right among them.

“As a player, he was extraordinary … and now, as a warrior for this unbelievable disease that none of us had even heard of but now we all know about and are all committed to beating on the back of what he’s done.

Neale Daniher with a bunch of his old players, including (back row L-R) Anthony Ingerson, Matthew Collins, Matthew Whelan, Rod Grinter, Nathan Brown, Daniel Ward, Guy Rigoni, Brad Green, Chris Johnson, Travis Johnstone and Alistair Nicholson, (seated) Nathan Jones and Garry Lyon. Picture: Michael Klein

“It’s one of the most extraordinary things you will see in footy.’’

Lyon said: “There’s probably nothing that does it justice but we need a statue or something of him.

“For him. it’s not about that.

“I think the statue for him will be finding a cure and that’d be the greatest statue and tribute we could ever pay to him.’’

Former Dees captain Nathan Jones said there should “100 per cent’’ be a statue of Daniher outside the MCG.

“You don’t want to envisage a world without him at this point in time and who knows how long much longer he has got?

“You’ve just got to appreciate him while he’s here but I think in the future, when you consider his legacy, I think at the very minimum you acknowledge it with something of that nature.’’

Melbourne star Christian Salem said it was “a massive privilege, massive honour” to play

in the Big Freeze blockbuster and backed the Daniher statue call.

“Oh, that would be awesome — that would be unbelievable,’’ he said.

“He’s the type of guy that should be recognised and celebrated for everything he’s done, not only with this, but throughout his whole life.’’

Neale Daniher at home with wife Jan and children Ben, Lauren and Bec.

MCC chief executive Stuart Fox said: “The Melbourne Cricket Club assesses suggestions for future statues against a set criterion that includes an athlete’s significant display of sporting excellence at the MCG.

“The statue program is currently under review alongside all recognition in the MCG precinct.’’

For now, Lyon said the best way fans could thank Daniher would be smashing the crowd and fundraising record on Monday.

Organisers expect a crowd of 85,000 to eclipse last year’s mark of 84,659 and to surpass the record fundraising haul of more than $20m set in 2024 but Lyon called for more.

“Get 95,000 and have every single one of them wearing a blue hat and that would be one of the most enduring memories from an AFL point of view ever,’’ he said.

Jones said Daniher’s “resilience, selflessness’’ and ability to “find a way’’ was unrivalled.

“Irrespective of what circumstances you’re facing, people will have thier challenges but the way in which you frame it in your own mind and then attack it, I think he is the poster boy for that really,’’ he said.

“Considering the dire situation he found himself in, the way he has been able to bring people together as a nation like he did as a footy coach but now just on an incredible scale.’’

Pies forward Tim Membrey said: “It’s pretty amazing to be a part of such a big cause … to show our support for FightMND and Neale Daniher.

“It’s a big day; so much goes into a game like this, and to be a small part of it gives me goosebumps.

“Games like the Big Freeze make me proud of the stuff we do in footy.”