Family, friends, dignitaries, AFL greats and fans gathered at the MCG on Wednesday for a state funeral service to celebrate the life of iconic figure Neale Daniher AO.
Hundreds queued up to access the MCG to bid farewell to the Aussie legend at the service.
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Scores of blue Big Freeze beanies and football scarfs could be seen as supporters and fellow AFL players made their way into the memorial service.
It comes two days after the King’s Birthday clash between Melbourne and Collingwood, which was the 12th edition of the Big Freeze and the first without Daniher’s presence. During the day, there was a $40m donation from Queensland couple Quentin and Kylie Birt, as well as $500,000 from the Victorian Government.
Guests arrive ahead of the Neale Daniher State Funeral at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Picture: James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesScenes outside the MCG. Picture: James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesThe order of service. Picture: Michael KleinSource: NewsWirePlay on. Picture: Michael KleinSource: NewsWire
An Essendon captain, one of Melbourne’s best ever coaches and Australia’s greatest champion to find a cure for motor neurone disease (MND), Daniher died on May 25 at the age of 65 after a very public 13-year battle with MND.
Daniher vowed to dedicate his life to campaigning and raising awareness of MND, becoming the co-founder and patron of FightMND. He helped to raise more than $141m for medical research towards the fight against, what he dubbed it, ‘The Beast’.
Daniher’s unwavering commitment to his cause and service to the community was recognised by the Australian Government with an AM in 2016 and an AO in 2021. He won the Victorian of the Year award in 2019 and, in 2025, was named the Australian of the Year.
Picture: James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
The ceremony began with an address from master of ceremonies Hamish McLachlan, paying tribute to the man who “changed the nation”.
“We gather not in grief alone but in gratitude for a man who turned his hardest days into a gift for the rest of us,” he said.
“What a privilege to have lived in a time where we could learn from a man we celebrate, honour and remember today.
“Neale was the best of us in so many ways. He understood something many of us learn when it’s too late that life’s worth isn’t in its length but what you do with the time you’re given.”
Jacinta Allan, Premier of Victoria. Picture: James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
Uncle Colin Hunter junior delivered the Welcome to Country and passed on his “deepest respect and condolences” to the Daniher family.
Scores of blue Big Freeze beanies and football scarfs could be seen as supporters and fellow AFL players made their way into the memorial service.
Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia. Picture: James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
Daniher’s wife Jan delivered a moving tribute to her husband. She began with a reference to a metaphor from the film Parenthood, in which the character Grandma debates whether to choose between the merry-go-round and rollercoaster.
“Grandma chose the rollercoaster and so did Neale,” she said.
“The rollercoaster (is) a metaphor for life – unpredictable, full of highs and lows, unexpected turns and sudden challenges.”
Jan Daniher. Picture: James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
Jan said her husband “loved to learn” and took many life lessons from his football career.
“The lessons sport taught us helped set us up for life – working as a team, learning to win and to lose, learning resilience and discipline,” she said.
“We rode the bumps and the drops and the sharp curves, never knowing what was to come next. There were moments of joy and sadness, fear and love, strength and determination.”
“It wasn’t easy, it was incredibly difficult, but we faced each challenge together and never gave up.”
A pictorial tribute is shown during the Neale Daniher State Funeral. Picture: James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
Ms Daniher became visibly emotional when talking about her husband’s greatest joy and passion – fatherhood.
“The most important role of all was becoming a father to our four children,” she said.
“It gave him a new perspective on life, he adored being a dad, and it gave his life its greatest meaning.”
She added Neale would be remembered for his “integrity, humility and honesty.”
“(He will also be remembered for) his sharp wit, his cheeky smile, his love of family and friends, and his wonderful love of laughter,” she said.
“This is how we will remember Neale. I love you, darling.”
‘MND didnt define him’ – Jan Daniher | 01:30
A pictorial tribute is shown. Picture: James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
Holding back tears, Daniher’s daughter Lauren proudly remembered how her father “never folded” in the face of his diagnosis.
“Dad always said that when life throws you a challenge, you have two options: You can flourish, or you can fold,” she said.
“And didn’t you flourish?”
She said he courageously continued fighting MND until the very end.
“None of this was easy,” she said.
“Losing the ability to communicate, to move, to breathe.
Lauren Daniher. Picture: James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
“You could have complained, but you never did.
“You got up each day and focused on what you could do, and you made the most of every single moment.
“You could have folded, but you never did. And I have endless admiration for that determination.”
She said that while most knew Daniher from the football field or his fight against The Beast, she said the moments she’ll miss the most were at home.
“I’ll miss walking through the front door and seeing you smile from your chair,” she said.
“I will miss the look of annoyance when I misunderstood what you were trying to communicate.
“I will miss that cheeky grin you would have on your face while you typed a smart-arse comment.
Luke Daniher. Picture: James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesLuke Daniher kisses his dad’s coffin after speaking on stage. Picture: Michael KleinSource: News Corp Australia
“We will play on for you, Dad. I love you.”
Daniher’s grandchildren also delivered touching tributes.
His grandson Cooper spoke at the state funeral service on Wednesday afternoon with his dad Luke by his side.
“When I was born, pops couldn’t hold me with his arms. He still found a way to rock me with his legs,” he said.
“Even when we couldn’t talk, he used his machine to chat and called me and my brother Ollie cheeky monkeys.
“My pops was strong, brave and courageous and I hope I can be like him when I grow up. I miss you Poppy, play on.”
Luke Daniher is seen with Cooper. Picture: James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan paid tribute to Daniher and his work to raise awareness for MND, saying that because of him there was a “stream of light” where there was only once a “terrible darkness”.
“On my desk is a letter Neale sent to me late last year – it sits in front of me every day. In it, he wrote, ‘You can’t always choose what happens, but you can always choose how you respond. Waiting for certainty keeps you stuck and courage begins the moment you decide,’” Ms Allan said.
Paul Kelly performs. Picture: James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
“Those words have stayed with me – I think about them on hard days and they say so much about how Neale lived his life. He did not choose MND, but he did choose how he would meet it – with courage, with purpose, with love, by turning his own suffering into something that could help others.”
One of four Daniher brothers who would played in the VFL/AFL, Daniher played 82 games for Essendon between 1979 and 1990. He won the Bombers’ best and fairest award in 1981, but his career was cut down by knee injuries when he was shaping as one of the premier players of his generation.
Terry Daniher. Picture: James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesAnthony Daniher. Picture: James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesMark Harvey. Picture: James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
Daniher quickly moved into coaching, becoming an assistant at Essendon under Kevin Sheedy then moving to Fremantle for a similar role for the club’s first three seasons. He was then appointed Melbourne’s senior coach ahead of the 1998 season — a role he held until the middle of the 2007 season. He led the Demons for 223 games — the third-most in club history — and guided the team to finals in six of his 10 seasons in charge, including the 2000 Grand Final. His win-loss ratio (48.65%) is the third-best in Melbourne history behind Norm Smith and Frank ‘Checker’ Hughes.
Paul Hopgood and David Neitz.Source: Getty ImagesChris Fagan spoke.Source: Getty ImagesAaron Davey. Picture: Michael KleinSource: News Corp AustraliaLynden Dunn and James McDonald. Picture: James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesSteven Tingay. Picture: Michael KleinSource: News Corp Australia
After six seasons as West Coast’s general manager of football, Daniher stepped down from his role due to health reasons, but only made his MND diagnosis public the next year. Since then, Daniher has been a pillar of hope for those living with the condition.
Rex Hunt. Picture: James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesBrett Ratten. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesCarlton CEO Graham Wright . Picture: Michael KleinSource: News Corp AustraliaAFL CEO Andrew Dillon. Picture: Luis Enrique AscuiSource: News Corp AustraliaMatthew Pavlich. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesDean Cox. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesSimon Goodwin. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesJames Hird and Paul Little. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesSteven King, Senior Coach of the Demons. Picture: James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesKysaiah Pickett and Latrelle Pickett. Picture: James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesMelbourne players arrive to honour and celebrate Neale Daniher’s life. Picture: Luis Enrique AscuiSource: News Corp AustraliaScott Selwood. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesJoel Selwood. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images