A true inspiration for all. He raised national awareness of a terrible disease,MND. The big freeze has become a firm fixture in the AFL calendar. He fought his own battle with MND with courage and bravery. On a football note, I was lucky to be at that famous comeback by the Dons against Carlton in Round 20 1981. 14.15 (99) to 15.8 (98). I say that because Neale was Best on Ground in that match, one I rate as the best I’ve attended other than GF wins. Tragically Neale suffered what was essentially a career ending injury to his knee in the next match although there was a brief comeback As a coach he took MFC to a GF in 2000. I remember that he graciously dropped into the EFC celebrations that night to rousing applause given to a great gentlemen of the game.
Neale’s contribution to the game didn’t just involve Essendon and Melbourne, he also had a significant impact at the two WA teams too, firstly at the Dockers in their inaugural season as the assistant coach under Gerard Neesham in 1995 - 1997 before taking the Melbourne job in 1998. He was also General Manager of Football Operations or something like that at the Eagles where he first started to feel unwell.
R.I.P. Neale Daniher and sincere condolences to the family.
I remember that very clearly as well ! I was listening to the tranny whilst making mud bricks in a plastic igloo for our mud brick house that we were building ( as one did in the 70’s and 80’s )
Great player, great coach and a truly inspirational man.
I was at the game. With Neale’s passing I’ll be watching that game in full on Thursday night, which happens to be beer appreciation night. What a ripping bloke he was.
When Jim Buckley kicked that goal to put them 26 points up, my club’s players were coming off after their Ammos game for their showers and one of the guys asked how it was going. I said 26 down and when he was coming back after his shower, wondered why I looked cheerful. Why? They got up, Neale kicked the last 3.
I remember his first game at Waverley…on the Dominator who was also debuting.
Neale did his knee the next week after the comeback. That was it…in the early days of recos, they did it too tight and they kept failing. 1990 was his swansong. 2 and a half years of brilliance, together with an 18-20 year old Tim Watson. They were a tour de force as a pairing.
Respect In Peace. Courage comes in many forms, but no more so than what Neale Daniher has displayed over the last 13 years. Knowing that fate is inevitable doesn’t make it any easier to accept. We have known this was coming for some time, yet every day he resisted was another small victory against the insidious disease that finally claimed him. That determination to fight MND is what truly defined him as a Champion. He is gone now but his legacy will live on and continue to grow.
As to his playing career? I missed the game in 1981. Things were looking hopeless late in the last quarter so l decided to take a bath while l listened on the radio. A fair amount of water ended up on the floor when he sealed the win. I did however manage to see the 4 Daniher brothers play their one and only game all together at Moorabbin, and wouldn’t have missed that win for anything. It was an uplifting half mile walk back to mum’s place after, l was jubilant.
As a player he showed glimpses of would have been. I was at the game that he won off his own boot at Princess Park. But unfortunatley his knee would not allow him to live up to that potential. Obviously had a great footy brain to go with that ability. His grace and determination while undergoing treatment was a testament to him. Taken too soon. RIP Neale.
