FightMND founder Neale Daniher urges Dees to seek opportunity in the face of on-field hardships

Neale Daniher centred his message to the Demons on the theme of what he wants for his three-month grandson, Cooper. It was a moving for the entire playing group. WATCH NOW.

Footy great and FightMND founder Neale Daniher has challenged the Melbourne playing group to seize the opportunity amid the hardship of their disappointing season.

In a stirring speech to players and staff members on Wednesday ahead of Monday’s fifth Big Freeze at the ‘G, Daniher said there was no use in wallowing in self-pity or playing the blame game.

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE SUPERFOOTY PODCAST

He centred his message on the theme of what he wants for his three-month grandson, Cooper, who is coming to Melbourne from Perth for his first Queen’s Birthday game.

“I am a new grandfather,” Daniher, 58, said with a smile.

“If I had one wish for Cooper, what would it be? You want to protect the people you love, and that’s noble and worthy. But I can’t protect him forever, as much as I love him.

“My wish for Cooper is that he can conduct himself (well) in the face of hardship … life doesn’t promise to be fair.”

Daniher cited the example of former Melbourne star Brad Green, and his children, Oliver, 9, and Wilba, 7, who lost wife and a mother, Anna Green in tragic circumstances recently.

“We don’t need to look far (to see pain),” Daniher said.

Neale Daniher speaks to the Melbourne playing group. Picture: Jay Town

“How tragic is that. Life is difficult; life is hard.”

Daniher spoke of how he went “to a dark place” after three knee reconstructions cost him the chance to play in back-to-back Essendon premierships (1984-85).

“I handled it poorly, I looked to blame, I didn’t accept responsibility, I got stuck … and the only one who benefits that is the dark side of your character.”

But he learnt a “valuable lesson” through the early struggles of his playing career, and when confronted with a “death sentence” when diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease just over five years ago, resolved to make a difference.

Defiantly, when FightMND chief executive Jamie Howden detailed how average life expectancy for MND sufferers was 27 months, Daniher injected with “I’m pushing it up.”

Melbourne players listen to Neale Daniher. Picture: Jay Town

Neale Daniher shares a laugh with the Dees. Picture: Jay Town

He said: “My opportunity was to fight MND … and it allows me to find a purpose. When you do it the right way, somehow you summon the moral courage to take responsibility.”

Then he looked at the Demons’ group and said: “Don’t shy away from it; don’t baulk; don’t procrastinate; don’t handball it to someone else. By doing that, what will emerge inside you is a better side of your character that will allow you to prevail and move through.”

The Melbourne players presented Daniher with a cheque for $5000 for the FightMND appeal. The organisation has raised $28 million since Daniher and two friends formed it, with the money being invested in clinical trials and drug developments, and hope that it will save lives in the future.

Neale Daniher with the Melbourne playing group. Picture: Jay Town

Melbourne co-captain Nathan Jones, who lost his grandfather George to MND, said the playing group couldn’t help but be inspired by Daniher’s message.

“This (campaign) just gets deeper and deeper each year,” Jones said. “It is so real and so raw. He is such an inspiration the way he presents himself. What he spoke about is the embodiment of how he lives his life.

“We are privileged to be a part of the day. If you look at it from a holistic point of view, it is bigger than the game itself.”