Fighting spirit raises millions for motor neurone disease

The beast Neale Daniher is fighting has almost stolen his speech for good, but the spirit, humour, quick mind and ambition of the AFL legend remain unbroken.

Neale Daniher with his wife Jan. Picture: David Caird

The beast Neale Daniher is fighting has almost stolen his speech for good, but the spirit, humour, quick mind and ambition of the AFL legend remain unbroken.

Daniher has made the clash between Melbourne and Collingwood, to be held in Sydney on Monday because of the Victorian Covid-19 situation, a highlight of the footy fixture.

The Queen’s Birthday clash is the prime avenue for “The Big Freeze at the ‘G” fundraising push that Daniher launched seven years ago after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease.

Daniher does not have a Brownlow Medal nor a premiership medallion. Dodgy knees as a player denied him individual honours, and as a coach he took Melbourne to the grand final in 2000 only to be denied by a champion Essendon side.

The average life expectancy of people diagnosed with MND is 27 months. Daniher has always known it will eventually beat him as well, but he fights to find a cure for the future.

His valiant bid to “slay the beast” over the past seven years and his advocacy and fundraising initiative see him recognised as an Officer of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday honours.

The citation acknowledges Daniher’s “distinguished service to people with motor neurone disease and their families through advocacy, public education and fundraising initiatives”.

The annual Daniher Drive, which sees members of the famous football clan travel through regional areas to raise funds, is one measure, but “The Big Freeze at the ‘G” is the highlight.

The 60-year-old has been as busy as ever over the past week ahead of the big day, with his daughter Bec sitting beside him throughout a series of television interviews promoting an endeavour that sees celebrities slide into an ice-filled pool.

Melbourne Storm rugby league coach Craig Bellamy, Brownlow Medallist Shane Crawford, the Demons AFLW captain Daisy Pearce and larger-than-life character Billy Brownless are among those who will continue the tradition at the MCG at halftime during the match in Sydney.

The aim is to surpass $2m in funds by halftime. It is estimated Daniher’s foundation has raised more than $50m in the quest to find a cure to MND.

The footy world is full of one-eyed supporters but Daniher’s charm and bravery have united even the most ardent of supporters behind the cause.

He is determined not to let any of them down. “I’m hard to understand (now). I have to shout. But you find a way,” he said on Fox Footy this week. “You have got to count your blessings. Here I am. How good is that? I’m still here. The fight goes on.”