Frawley was farewelled with a final lap of the Moorabbin Oval he cherished to the sounds of a piper leading a hearse decked out in red, white and black, and the applause of family, friends and the St Kilda faithful.
His wife earlier described her soulmate as “a real Peter Pan … there was a real side to him like that … (he was) king of the kids.”
“He was a great dad and a great husband. He absolutely loved his girls.
“We were just a team, we were best friends. We just laughed and had fun.”
The Saints champion, one-time Richmond coach, media personality and mental health advocate would often ask his closest friends whether he had made an impact on the people he came into contact with.
A glimpse of the 800-strong invitation-only crowd at his private funeral at the old Moorabbin Town Hall, more than 3000 fans watching from the Linton St headquarters of the St Kilda Football Club, and the tens of thousands more watching on television gave the most definitive answer.
Daniel Patrick Frawley touched many people across his 56 years before dying in a car crash last Monday week.
Mrs Frawley walked arm-in-arm with their daughters behind the hearse on that final lap to rousing applause, leaving barely a dry eye in a venue that had been Frawley’s second home after Bungaree, where he grew up and spiritually never really left.
In a video, Mrs Frawley described how mental health issues could impact on the families.
“The one thing people weren’t aware of was that Danny was suffering again — bulletproof Danny decided in January that he thought he was all fine,” she said.
“‘I don’t need medication, I don’t need to do anything’. It changed his course. He had so much to look forward to.
“Mental health … is so common and he fought so, so hard.
“There is no blame. Everyone did everything they could, including all of us. The mistake Danny made was that he went off his medication.”
Former North Melbourne and Syndye star Wayne Schwass, Frawley’s mate and Puka Up CEO, urged Australians to “change the narrative” about mental health.
“Fellas, it is OK to be in pain,” Schwass said. “It is OK to hurt; it is OK to be sad. But it is no longer OK to suffer in silence.
“It has never been more important for our boys, the next generation of men, to be allowed, encouraged and supported to be emotionally connected and expressive — to be vulnerable and empowered to cry without fear or judgment.”
Frawley’s 90-minute service included 12 speakers from various stage of his life as well as MC Hamish McLachlan.
His best mate and cousin Danny Quinlan and former Saints teammate Michael Roberts told of his time as one of six kids on a potato farm in Bungaree, near Ballarat.
Saints teammates Stewart Loewe, Robert Harvey and Ken Sheldon (who also coached him) spoke of his unbreakable link to St Kilda, helping to keep the struggling Saints afloat in the toughest of times.
“In recent years, as Spud was going through his battles, he said he should’ve been a better captain,” Harvey said. “But he was the best type of captain.”
Frawley’s time at Richmond as coach was articulated by Wayne Campbell, Brendon Gale and former fitness chief Noel Duncan, who said they never forgot how he and Mrs Frawley wrapped themselves around the club.
His time in the media was summed up by great mates Garry Lyon, Jason Dunstall and Damian Barrett.
Lyon said he had never heard a husband talk of his wife more than Danny, nor a dad speak about his kids more than he had.
The tribute out the front of St Kilda’s headquarters has grown steadily since Frawley’s passing, with flowers, memorabilia, scarfs and even a few potatoes in honour of the man they knew as Spud.
That shrine won’t last. But the memories will last forever, as one of his daughters said yesterday, “It’s not goodbye, it’s more like ‘see you later’.”
Recap the moving and at times hilarious funeral service in the blog below.
If you or someone you love is in crisis or needs support right now, help is available. Please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636. MensLine Australia is a telephone and online counselling service for men with family and relationship concerns. Phone 1300 78 99 78
Updates
Danny Frawley’s hearse has done a lap of honour around the football ground where he played so many games for his beloved Saints.
The hearse is led by a sole bagpiper playing Oh Danny Boy.
It is being followed by his wife Anita and three daughters, who are walking hand in hand.
Fans are clapping as the hearse passes them as they pay their final tribute to the Saints great.
UPDATE: The family said their final goodbyes to the coffin after the lap of honour.
Danny’s elderly mother Shirley Frawley was supported by her three granddaughters as she said goodbye to her son.
The hearse was decked in Saints scarves and red, white and black decorations.
Danny Frawley was given three cheers as the Saints anthem was played.
Members of the crowd were sombre, with many wiping back tears and hugging one another.
Thanks for joining us on a sad day in footy as we say goodbye to Danny Frawley. His family, mates, former teammates, media colleagues and all who have been touched by Spud will now be sharing some of their favourite stories over a drink after a very moving funeral service.
We'll sign off with Wayne Schwass's emotional and powerful speech about his mate Danny and the importance of mental health.
Danny Frawley’s hearse has done a lap of honour around the football ground where he played so many games for his beloved Saints.
The hearse is led by a sole bagpiper playing Oh Danny Boy.
It is being followed by his wife Anita and three daughters, who are walking hand in hand.
Fans are clapping as the hearse passes them as they pay their final tribute to the Saints great.
UPDATE: The family said their final goodbyes to the coffin after the lap of honour.
Danny’s elderly mother Shirley Frawley was supported by her three granddaughters as she said goodbye to her son.
The hearse was decked in Saints scarves and red, white and black decorations.
Danny Frawley was given three cheers as the Saints anthem was played.
Members of the crowd were sombre, with many wiping back tears and hugging one another.
Danny Frawley's final lap of Moorabbin
Danny Frawley's final lap of Moorabbin
Another heartbroken Sainter
The official service has concluded, there will be a lap of honour at Moorabbin shortly – stay tuned to watch it here live
More tributes to one of St Kilda's favourite sons
Hamish McLachlan signs off with a message for Frawley before screening a video tribute.
"Everyone loved you, and you really should know that. Rest in peace."
Jason Dunstall, Hawthorn champ and Frawley's long-time co-host on Fox Footy's Bounce, is now speaking.
Dunstall says he first met Frawley as an opponent "whose primary job was to punch holes in the back of my head", and didn't imagine their lives would be so intertwined.
"He was the most magnificent partner in crime you could ever wish for.
"He did whatever was needed to make other people look better … and that often meant throwing himself under the bus.
"He was magnetic because you just wanted to be around him.
"I loved working with him, I loved his company, I just loved him. Rest in peace, mate."
