The mark of a person
I love the quote from Daniher they have chosen for the back of the order of service booklet:
“I hope to leave a legacy that says this: no matter the odds, no matter the diagnosis, we all have the power to fight, to smile, and to do. Because the mark of a person isn’t what they say; it’s what they do.”
Maybe we can all try to do one good thing today to make someone else’s life better in his honour.
Anyone else have a favourite quote of his? Hard to go past “play on” – simple but effective.
Order of service
The order of service is online now.
Sports broadcaster and Daniher’s close friend Hamish McLachlan will open proceedings as MC.
After the Welcome to Country and national anthem, we’ll hear from Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, before family tributes from Daniher’s wife, children and brother.
Former Melbourne footballers David Neitz and Paul Hopgood, who played under Daniher, will also share their reflections, followed by close friend Cam Taylor, and Brisbane coach Chris Fagan.
Singer-songwriter Gary Pinto will perform between tributes.
‘The grandkids are here, piss off’
Neale Daniher was a lot of things – talented footy player, respected coach, fundraiser and educator for motor neurone disease, 2025 Australian of the Year.
But perhaps his most important role was husband, dad and grandad.
Speaking at a Demons fan event Monday, former Melbourne footballer and Daniher protege Daniel Ward said he caught up with his old coach not long ago to discuss plans for this year’s Big Freeze.
They were mid-conversation when Ward looked up and saw, through the window, people coming up the drive.
“The grandkids are here!” said Daniher. “Piss off.”
Neale said play on, Kozzy did just that
“Play on” was Neale Daniher’s famous catchcry; a neat summation of his attitude that all challenges in life must be confronted with vigour and positivity.
Poignantly, playing on was exactly what Melbourne star Kysaiah Pickett did in the definitive moment of Monday’s Big Freeze game, played in Daniher’s honour here at the MCG.
It was a thrilling game, played before a crowd of 88,019. And it was all the talk when our seasoned football scribes Michael Gleeson, Jake Niall and Sam McClure gathered in our studio yesterday to record the latest episode of the Real Footy podcast.
You can catch up on all the news in footy here on the pod:
Good afternoon
The doors have just opened to the MCG where thousands of people have gathered to say farewell to the great Neale Daniher, AO, who passed away late last month after a 13-year battle with “The Beast” that is motor neurone disease.
I’m Bridget McArthur, a sports affairs reporter with The Age. I’ll be sharing some of the highlights of the funeral service as it progresses.
Proceedings begin at 1pm, expected finish around 2.30pm. There are still tickets available on Ticketek but you’d want to get there quick stat as organisers want bums in seats by 12.45pm at the latest.
Entry is via Gate 2 and the G-Train mobility shuttle service will be operating for anyone needing help closer to the ground.
Otherwise, you can tune into the livestream.
If anyone is wanting to leave a tribute to Daniher and his family, they’re asking donations be made to FightMND in lieu of flowers at fightmnd.org.au.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
