{"id":723029,"date":"2026-06-08T12:27:34","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T12:27:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/723029\/"},"modified":"2026-06-08T12:27:34","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T12:27:34","slug":"channel-7-star-sam-mac-steals-the-show-at-emotion-charged-big-freeze","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/723029\/","title":{"rendered":"Channel 7 star Sam Mac steals the show at emotion-charged Big Freeze"},"content":{"rendered":"

Channel 7 star Sam Mac has stolen the show on the annual Big Freeze at the \u2018G<\/a> slide ahead of the King\u2019s Birthday clash between Collingwood and Melbourne, but only narrowly avoided disaster in doing so. <\/p>\n

Sunrise\u2019s<\/a> bubbly weather presenter came out as children\u2019s Aussie cartoon favourite Bluey on Monday \u2014 and his commitment to the costume cost him a moment of concern at bottom of the slide. <\/p>\n

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Sam Mac steals the show at Big Freeze 12<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

So big and chunky was the outfit that Sam struggled to get up and out of the icy water after he plunged into it. <\/p>\n

\u201cI reckon he might not get out! He might need to be rescued,\u201d Brian Taylor said. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe can\u2019t stand up, he\u2019s gone under. He can\u2019t get up, he\u2019s having to backstroke. And that was very nearly the first drowning!\u201d<\/p>\n

But he was still honoured to be part of the special event, which \u2014 into its 12th year \u2014 was particularly emotional this year given the recent passing of Neale Daniher<\/a>, who initiated the fundraising day to champion the fight against motor neuron disease. <\/p>\n

Neale\u2019s daughter Bec<\/a> took her father\u2019s place at the top of the slide, but not without her dad\u2019s chair by her side and a Big Freeze beanie sitting on it \u2014 a beautiful touch for what has become an iconic event on the AFL calendar.<\/p>\n

Scroll down to see all 10 of the Big Freeze sliders<\/p>\n

\"NealeNeale Daniher was there in spirit. Credit: Channel 7Andy Lee<\/p>\n

One of Australia\u2019s favourite comedians, podcasters and media personalities went down as Wizz from his own children\u2019s books. <\/p>\n

\u201cI started out pumped and now I\u2019m terrified,\u201d Lee said before going down. <\/p>\n

The only concern though was that the costume almost looked too big to fit down the slide!<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve told me to keep my tongue in, in case this this (my costume) hits me,\u201d Lee said. <\/p>\n

As he went down, Brian Taylor added: \u201cWow, we have never seen this before \u2014 a man promoting his own book!\u201d<\/p>\n

When he got to the bottom, Lee couldn\u2019t help but make the obvious joke, given the shape of his costume.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know this is ball-shaped, so I expect a bit of shrinkage!\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

\"AndyAndy Lee was the first to go down. Credit: GettyNathan Jones<\/p>\n

Neale Daniher\u2019s former hard-nosed midfielder at Melbourne, who is on assistant coaching duties as well today, came out to the stage as world-famous Australian DJ, Fisher. <\/p>\n

It might seem like an obvious choice given Fisher and Jones share famous bald-head looks \u2014 or at least they used to \u2014 but Fisher has since had his hair restored!<\/p>\n

The costume was still a winner though. <\/p>\n

Daniher was Jones\u2019s first AFL coach. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe certainly taught me a lot,\u201d Jones said. <\/p>\n

\u201cAbsolutely honoured to be here and hopefully the team and the club can represent and honour his legacy today.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"NathanNathan Jones takes the icy plunge as Fisher. Credit: GettySam Moyston AC<\/p>\n

Australia\u2019s honourable Governor General dressed up as Neale himself! <\/p>\n

Sam Moyston AC came out wearing a custom half-Essendon, half-Melbourne jumper.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe highest-ranking person ever to take the slide. Prime Minister \u2014 you\u2019re next!\u201d BT said. <\/p>\n

\u201cIf everyone was like Neale Daniher, this country would be unstoppable,\u201d Moyston said at the bottom of the slide. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt would be the most caring place that put community at the heart of everything, cared for other people, and didn\u2019t always focus on the bad things, but showed up at our very best.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"SamSam Moyston AC is the highest-ranked slider in history. Credit: GettySam Mac<\/p>\n

The Channel 7 star came out as Australian cartoon favourite, Bluey.<\/p>\n

\u201cBluey is a six-year-old girl in the show. I have a similar physique to a six-year-old girl,\u201d he said at the top of the slide. <\/p>\n

The costume was a winner, but it might have been a little bit too big, given it almost drowned him in the icy water at the bottom. <\/p>\n

\u201cI reckon he might not get out! He might need to be rescued,\u201d BT said. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe can\u2019t stand up, he\u2019s gone under. He can\u2019t get up, he\u2019s having to backstroke. And that was very nearly the first drowning!\u201d<\/p>\n

The huge Crows fan\u2019s blue body paint had half come off by the time he got out. <\/p>\n

\u201cI guess I\u2019m just having an ice bath for the next 20 minutes,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

\u201cI did this for my daughters … and my uncle Laurie, who has MND.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"SamSam Mac stole the show as Aussie icon Bluey. Credit: SevenCooper Woods<\/p>\n

Australia\u2019s winter Olympics gold medallist made Mick Fanning the first person to be a slider and a costume. <\/p>\n

Woods is used to the cold conditions, but even he was blown away by the sea of blue beanies at the MCG. <\/p>\n

\u201cMate, it\u2019s actually unbelievable,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

\u201cI landed in Melbourne yesterday afternoon, and the domination of blue beanies as soon as I hit the airport here was insane.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"CooperCooper Woods did his best Mick Fanning impersonation. Credit: GettyJo Weston<\/p>\n

Australia\u2019s Princess of Pop is coming to the MCG in September, but star Australian netballer Jo Weston brought her early for the Big Freeze. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m probably the world\u2019s tallest Kylie Minogue impersonator, but I\u2019m happy to be here,\u201d Weston said. <\/p>\n

The Diamonds champion said she has already seen the Kylie documentary twice. <\/p>\n

Weston, who is also a big Essendon fan, said she\u2019d love to be at the grand final to see Minogue, but has her best friend\u2019s wedding that weekend. <\/p>\n

\"JoJo Weston went down as Aussie pop icon Kylie Minogue. Credit: GettyDale Thomas<\/p>\n

The Collingwood premiership player came out as his iconic premiership coach, Mick Malthouse \u2014 and he fully committed to the bit. <\/p>\n

Thomas did his best Malthouse impersonation by answering Tim Watson\u2019s questions in his best Mick voice, using a couple of classic Mick references from some of his famously icy press conferences. <\/p>\n

And as an added surprise, Thomas even brought out Collingwood\u2019s 2010 premiership captain Nick Maxwell, including with the real cup, on stage to recreate their moment on the dais 16 years ago. <\/p>\n

At the bottom of the slide, Thomas said he was even wearing Malthouse\u2019s actual shirt from his wardrobe at home too. <\/p>\n

\u201cI texted the coach mid-week and he had one new, with tags,\u201d Thomas said at the bottom. <\/p>\n

\"DaleDale Thomas went down as his premiership coach, Mick Malthouse. Credit: Quinn Rooney\/Getty ImagesMark Howard<\/p>\n

Triple M\u2019s star footy and cricket commentator has made no secret over the years that Jason Dunstall and Alan Border were his two sporting heroes. <\/p>\n

Now Howie has come out as Dunstall himself, who is also a colleague of his on radio. <\/p>\n

With a footy in his hands, which read \u20181254\u2019 \u2014 Dunstall\u2019s number of career AFL goals \u2014 Howie stood at the top of the slide with full mullet wig and all.<\/p>\n

But he stopped short of Dunstall\u2019s infamous helmet. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat would have annoyed him because that wasn\u2019t his favourite look,\u201d Howard said. <\/p>\n

\u201cI know he\u2019s favourite was when he had the hair so I thought I\u2019d pay hommage to him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"MarkMark Howard went down as his hero Jason Dunstall. Credit: GettyAmy Shark<\/p>\n

The chart-topping popstar came out as her namesake and pop predecessor, Amy Winehouse. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think she just paved the way for girls to write their feelings unapologetically and be brutally honest,\u201d Shark said at the top.<\/p>\n

Adorned with the Winehouse tattoos and famous hair, Shark couldn\u2019t quite bring herself to fully submerge into the icy water when she got to the bottom. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think for reaction, this is the one \u2014 Amy did not like the cold confines of that cold swimming pool,\u201d BT said. <\/p>\n

\u201cOh my god, that was insane,\u201d she said at the bottom.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am so honoured to be a part of this. He (Daniher) is the greatest leading man and such an inspiration. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t just choose to do this, you have to be asked, and so, as much pain as I\u2019m in right now, this is great.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"AmyAmy Shark went down as Amy Winehouse. Credit: GettyDan Gorringe<\/p>\n

The former Gold Coast and Carlton ruck-turned podcaster and social media influencer came out last, dressed as current Blues interim coach, Josh Fraser. <\/p>\n

Fraser has won four games on the trot since taking over from Michael Voss, giving hope to Blues fans like Gorringe, who is a very public Carlton tragic. <\/p>\n

\u201cJosh Fraser is the saviour, ladies and gentlemen,\u201d Gorringe said. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m declaring it. Obviously played for the Pies, lost his hair, came to the good side, hair came back.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s the next coach!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"DanDan Gorringe was the final slider to go down. Credit: Getty<\/p>\n

Daniher\u2019s family reveals touching way they remember \u2018Pops\u2019<\/p>\n

2 min read<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Ben Cousins reveals unlikely bond since dad\u2019s MND diagnosis<\/p>\n

2 min read<\/p>\n

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