League heavyweights join push for Neale Daniher to be honoured with a statue
The AFL CEO has thown his support behind a Neale Daniher statue stating he was among the biggest figures in the game, and that there was no one more worthy of the honour.
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AFL chief Gillon McLachlan says there’s no one more worthy of a statue than Neale Daniher.
Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson wrote earlier this week Daniher should be honoured now with a statue near the MCG.
Former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire supported the idea on Thursday and McLachlan was also in favour of the proposal.
“It’s hard to find someone who’s a bigger figure in football in 2022 than Neale,” McLachlan told 3AW.
“He’s obviously been, was a star player and obviously had injury, a fabulous coach, made a Grand Final and then the (football) afterlife’s been incredible.
“The football afterlife and what he’s done in our community for our game for our community, you can’t think of anyone more worthy.
“It’s a decision for the MCG so I won’t buy into that, but if someone said Neale Daniher was getting a statue, you’d go: ‘of course, that makes absolute sense’.”
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McLachlan agreed it was important to honour Daniher now.
“I know as an example, with different decisions around the AFL when you’re weighing up who should be honoured, whether it’s legends status .. while people are alive I think it certainly needs to be part of the consideration,” he said.
“It’s obviously feels difficult to talk about that, but Neale’s journey is known to everyone and I think everyone understands what we’re saying.”
McGuire suggested Daniher’s statue could rise near Federation Square.
League heavyweights join Daniher statue crusade
Former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has backed a call for Neale Daniher to be recognised with a statue for the man who has brought a “level of love and purpose to the game” no one else has ever done.
Declaring the impact of Daniher’s charity work in raising awareness for the fight against MND would be “felt forever”, McGuire said there was no doubt the former Melbourne coach deserved a statue in his honour.
Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson wrote this week Daniher needed to be celebrated now with a statue at the MCG.
McGuire said there should be a discussion around where would be the most “symbolic” place for a Daniher statue — whether that was at the MCG or at the start of Daniher’s Way at Federation Square as a “meeting point” for the walk to the ground.
“I don’t think there is anything more to be done other than say, ‘Do it’,” McGuire said.
“I think the MCG at Daniher’s Way makes perfect sense, or do you put it at the start of Daniher’s Way down at Federation Square because it’s even bigger than a sporting thing?
“I would like to have people put up suggestions … and just say ‘Where is a really appropriate place that can actually connect?’
“Whether it’s at the MCG or at the start of Daniher’s Way at Federation Square as a meeting point to go to the MCG, I’m happy to have any suggestions so long as it’s a place that is the most suitable for everybody.
“The most apt place would be the MCG or, as I said at the start of Daniher’s Way, which can then become, which it already has, but even more the meeting point for everyone to come to go to the MCG.
“Whatever the case, I am up for it. Does he deserve a statue? Well, he should have been Australian of the Year three times. But no doubt (he deserves) a statue, but where is the most symbolic place?”
Melbourne Cricket Club boss Stuart Fox said a set criteria was used to approve statues on the MCG’s external concourse.
“Neale Daniher is a beloved member of the community and, in conjunction with the Victorian Government, was recently honoured in the MCG precinct with the naming of Daniher’s Way,” Fox said.
“The MCC assesses suggestions for future statues on the MCG external concourse against a set criteria that includes an athlete’s significant display of sporting excellence at the MCG.”
Melbourne premiership forward Ben Brown said club great Daniher “absolutely” deserved a statue.
“I’d like to see that, he’s a huge figure and not only for the Melbourne Football Club but AFL wide,” Brown said.
“People appreciate and recognise the work Neale has done in fighting MND.
“And even more than that, just what an inspiring figure he is and how he lives his life.
“I think it would be fitting.”
Richmond spearhead Tom Lynch led the chorus of players in support of the move, describing the decision as “no-brainer”.
Robbo: Neale needs MCG statue with sporting legends
It’s time to recognise Neale Daniher for what he is with what he deserves.
That’s a statue in the Avenue of Legends, the walkway which connects Wellington St and the MCG concourse, where the statues of Norm Smith, Neil Harvey, Kevin Bartlett, John Coleman and Jim Stynes reside.
Let’s go for a walk among the legends.
The enchanting walkway, which is home to the aforementioned footballing and cricketing legends among the English elms, leads down to the statue of Shane Warne.
Walk to the left of Warnie, there’s Olympians Betty Cuthbert and Shirley Strickland, beyond those two, the great Ron Barassi and Leigh Matthews, and further around Don Bradman and Keith Miller, and then the champs of the 1930s and ’40s, Haydn Bunton Snr and Dick Reynolds.
Next is Bill Ponsford and Dennis Lillee in full flight and in between gates one and two, the statue to football, of Tom Wills and kids.
It is a celebration of greatness at the MCG.
And they are more than champions, they are champions and legends, precious to their sport and, in Stynes’ storied journey, precious and inspiring outside of the sporting arena.
Neale Daniher did not reach the sporting achievement of all the above – and perhaps he could’ve, save for injury – yet he is synonymous with the MCG.
He transcends football. He was a player and a coach, yet he is far more than that. He’s an icon.
And the MCG, the heart of Melbourne, has enabled Daniher to bring millions of people together for a cause far more important than football.
In essence, Daniher needed the MCG to raise hope and money and the MCG welcomed Daniher with open arms.
The beast, as Daniher has called it, is closing in.
The fight to find a cure for MND has raised upwards of $60 million, led by a man who won’t see the cure.
“A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit.” That is a saying from another time.
It could be said of Neale Daniher and his fight against MND.
I’m not sure who decides who is statue worthy at the people’s ground, but if the people voted, well, we already know the answer.
There’s already a walkway in honour of Daniher, it’s called Daniher’s Way.
But a statue is more significant.
Because, in 200, 300, 500 years when people walk past the Jim Stynes statue and ask, who was this Irish fella who travelled the seas as a pioneer and departed this life as a legend, they should also have the opportunity to stop and stare and ask who was this Daniher bloke from Ungarie, who gathered a nation in blue beanies, to help find a cure for a dreaded disease that once was incurable.
And it happened right here at the MCG.
And for that, Daniher has earned a spot in the gardens of our most sacred sporting arena.
We just can’t click our fingers and make it appear.
Two things need to happen.
The powers that be must tick it off and the people of Victoria, nup, the people all over Australia must donate money to build the bronze statue.
We took the liberty of investigating the cost and timings.
Louis Laumen, of Yarraville, crafted the first 11 statues around the MCG and said on Wednesday $200,000 would cover the build which would take six months.
$200,000 to honour a man who has helped raise $60 million.
Come on MCC, come on AFL, come on State Government, come on the power of the people, come on anyone and everyone – we should make it happen.
Now.
Originally published as League heavyweights join push for Neale Daniher to be honoured with a statue
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