AFL legend, FightMND campaigner remembered at MCG

The doors have just opened to the MCG where thousands of people have gathered to say farewell to the great Neale Daniher, AO, who passed away late last month after a 13-year battle with “The Beast” that is motor neurone disease.

I’m Bridget McArthur, a sports affairs reporter with The Age. I’ll be sharing some of the highlights of the funeral service as it progresses.

Proceedings begin at 1pm, expected finish around 2.30pm. There are still tickets available on Ticketek but you’d want to get there quick stat as organisers want bums in seats by 12.45pm at the latest.

Entry is via Gate 2 and the G-Train mobility shuttle service will be operating for anyone needing help closer to the ground.

Otherwise, you can tune into the livestream.

If anyone is wanting to leave a tribute to Daniher and his family, they’re asking donations be made to FightMND in lieu of flowers at fightmnd.org.au.

As a footballer, Neale Daniher was a schoolboy prodigy who made his VFL debut shortly after his 18th birthday in 1979.

He landed at the Bombers, via Assumption College, from his family farm at Ungarie, where he was one of Jim and Edna Daniher’s 11 children.

By his debut season, Daniher was a university student living at Newman College. He even played a secret game for the college that year, well … half a game, unbeknown to the Bombers.

Peter Hanlon recalled that game for us late last month, just days after Daniher passed.

I love the quote from Daniher they have chosen for the back of the order of service booklet:

“I hope to leave a legacy that says this: no matter the odds, no matter the diagnosis, we all have the power to fight, to smile, and to do. Because the mark of a person isn’t what they say; it’s what they do.”

Maybe we can all try to do one good thing today to make someone else’s life better in his honour.

Anyone else have a favourite quote of his? Hard to go past “play on” – simple but effective.

Neale Daniher was a lot of things – talented footy player, respected coach, fundraiser and educator for motor neurone disease, 2025 Australian of the Year.

But perhaps his most important role was husband, dad and grandad.

Speaking at a Demons fan event Monday, former Melbourne footballer and Daniher protege Daniel Ward said he caught up with his old coach not long ago to discuss plans for this year’s Big Freeze.

They were mid-conversation when Ward looked up and saw, through the window, people coming up the drive.

“The grandkids are here!” said Daniher. “Piss off.”

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