Radio presenter Tom Elliott has rejected calls for AFL great Neale Daniher to be honoured with a statue at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Elliott's comments on Tuesday came after fans and footy stars said Daniher should be the subject of a tribute at the famous stadium after he passed away from motor neurone disease earlier this week.
Elliott's Stance on Statue Criteria
'I've got to say my reading of the statue rules, probably doesn't extend to Neale Daniher,' the 3AW Mornings host said. 'All of the 16 statues we currently have are of people who achieved sporting greatness on the G.' He added, 'The thing about Neale was that he did not achieve the sporting greatness required.'
Sporting icons like Betty Cuthbert, Don Bradman and Shane Warne have all been honoured with the accolade. Elliott claimed Daniher hasn't quite reached the same level as those all-time greats. 'The statues are not for players who were OK or pretty good. They are for the best of the best,' Elliott said.
Family Statement on Daniher's Passing
Neale's passing was confirmed on Monday, with his family releasing a statement announcing the tragic news. 'We're heartbroken to share that our much-loved husband, Dad and Poppy, Neale Daniher, passed away at home, surrounded by his family,' the statement read. 'From day one, Neale was a fighter. His determination was unmatched – choosing every day to find opportunity where others might see only challenge, and taking the fight to the Beast with everything he had.'
'Even in the toughest times, he kept pushing forward, determined to land as many blows as he could against his toughest opponent, all with a cheeky grin and a sharp sense of humour that never left him.'
Daniher's passing came two weeks before the annual King's Birthday match between Melbourne and Collingwood, which has played host to the Big Freeze fundraiser that raised money for his FightMND charity.
