Injured Melbourne defender Adam Tomlinson reveals heartwarming message from Neale Daniher

Adam Tomlinson feared the worst when he felt a sharp pain in his knee. But despite the injury being season-ending, he is staying positive about his recovery.

Melbourne defender Adam Tomlinson received a swag of messages after his season-ending knee injury in Round 7, but one meant as much as almost any of the others.

It came from the father of one of his best mates, Neale Daniher, sent via Daniher’s wife’s phone, immediately after Tomlinson suffered an ACL injury in the clash with North Melbourne in Hobart.

As shattered as Tomlinson was at the time, he couldn’t help but marvel at Daniher’s extraordinary life perspective, and how even though he remains locked in a fight with the “the Beast” that is Motor Neurone Disease, he still had the capacity to reach out and offer support.

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“Jan (Neale’s wife) sent the message on behalf of Neale,” Tomlinson told News Corp ahead of Monday’s Queen’s Birthday Big Freeze MND clash between Melbourne and Collingwood at the SCG on Monday.

“It meant so much to me. The message just said that he was thinking of me and that he was hoping I was OK. He didn’t have to do it. The Danihers are just an incredible family.”

Adam Tomlinson was having a stellar season for Melbourne until being sidelined with injury. Picture: Michael Klein

Neale Daniher sent the Demons defender a heartwarming message following his knee injury. Picture: David Caird

Tomlinson had long been looking forward to playing in the Big Freeze clash – which raises money and awareness for MND research, a disease Daniher has been courageously battling for seven years.

He missed the chance last year because Covid wrecked the AFL fixture.

His knee injury meant he missed again, as Collingwood defied the Demons to send coach Nathan Buckley out on a high.

“It’s such a great cause,” Tomlinson said.

“Everyone really looks forward to the day, and it is not only great for the two clubs, it’s become a really important occasion.”

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan headlined the list of celebrities who took the plunge, including Brownlow medallist Shane Crawford, Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy and former footy great Billy Brownless.

Tomlinson, 27, said the Danihers had played a big part in his life for as long as he can recall.

Tomlinson with teammates Trent Rivers (left), Michael Hibberd and Ed Langdon. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

His mother, Kaye, and Neale’s wife, Jan, have been “super close” for years, and Tomlinson played junior footy with Neale’s son, Ben, at Canterbury Cobras. They remain great mates.

“I played a lot of junior footy with Ben,” he said.

“After the games, Jan would sometimes take me back to their place. I remember Neale would be getting ready to go off to the footy.

“I just thought he was off to coach a local team.

“My Dad (Peter) corrected me a few hours later when he told me Neale was actually going off to coach Melbourne (in the AFL).

“They have been amazing for our family.

“The journey they have gone through, particularly with Neale’s illness, keeps blowing me away.”

Tomlinson, who spent eight seasons with GWS before moving to Melbourne in late 2019, is five weeks into his knee rehab.

It took him a number of weeks to get it through his head that he will miss “a special year” with the Demons.

It is doubly frustrating as the team sits atop of the ladder in their chase for the club’s first flag since 1964, and he was also in outstanding form when he suffered his knee injury.

“It was the heartache of knowing I was going to miss out on a pretty special season, but I have dealt with that now,” he said.

“I can’t go back and change what has happened.”

Tomlinson has still had a strong presence at training despite being sidelined. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

There was, however, a silver lining following his surgery — all the other areas beside his ACL were intact.

“I had pain for 15 seconds and then it all went away,” he said.

“I knew in the back of my mind that a lot of people say when they do an ACL that there is instant pain and then it subsides.”

“I knew straight away it was serious.

“(But) I only did my ACL, everything else is intact — meniscus, PCL, medial, lateral.

“I am just over five weeks post-surgery. I already have a good baseline of strength, there is a good range of movement.

“That’s not the hard part with these injuries, it is just not playing that is the hardest part.”

But the articulate Demon has relished the chance to remain in all of the team meetings and defensive chats, as well as in the coaches’ box whenever he can.

He’s using his setback as a learning opportunity for the future, particularly in assisting the Demons’ exceptionally tight back six, including the man who replaced him, Harrison Petty.

“I told Harrison when I got injured that he wasn’t playing because I was injured; he was playing because he had earned his spot,” he said.

He has worked with Petty, Steven May, Jake Lever, Michael Hibberd, and others in terms of preparation and planning, and can’t wait to join them again on the first day of the pre-season.

“The physios and doctors are confident that day one of pre-season, I will be no different to the person standing next to me,” he said. “I can’t wait to get back.”

For the moment, though, Tomlinson is focused on his rehabilitation and his off-field work with the team to try to ensure the Demons’ winning run continues into the rest of the season.

Originally published as Injured Melbourne defender Adam Tomlinson reveals heartwarming message from Neale Daniher