Neale Daniher, the former AFL player and coach who became a prominent campaigner for motor neurone disease (MND) research, has died at the age of 65. He passed away at home, 13 years after being diagnosed with the disease.
His family released a statement on Monday, describing him as a fighter whose determination was unmatched. “From day one, Neale was a fighter,” the statement read. “His determination was unmatched – choosing every day to find opportunity where others might only see challenge, and taking the fight to ‘the Beast’ with everything he had.”
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon led tributes, saying Daniher’s legacy would extend far beyond football. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised his “selflessness and bravery”, while opposition leader Angus Taylor noted he “never waved a white flag” after his diagnosis. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan confirmed plans for a state memorial service.
Daniher played for Essendon alongside his three brothers, winning the club’s best and fairest in 1981 and captaining the side. He later coached Melbourne from 1998 to 2007, taking charge of 223 games. After his MND diagnosis, he co-founded FightMND, which has raised over $100 million for research through initiatives like the Big Freeze.
He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2016 and an Officer in 2021, and was named Australian of the Year in 2023. The Melbourne Football Club said his legacy was “woven into every fabric” of the club, while Essendon described him as “one of the most remarkable people our game has ever produced”.
