Updated ,first published
Neale Daniher’s daughter has revealed her final conversation with her late father was about the speech he would deliver Melbourne and Collingwood players before this year’s Big Freeze game.
On the day it was announced NRL star Jai Arrow, who was recently retired after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease, will toss the coin in Monday’s special King’s Birthday clash, the Magpies and Demons united to remember Daniher’s extraordinary contribution as the figurehead of the battle against MND.
A crowd of upwards of 90,000 – many of whom will be wearing blue beanies – is expected to honour Daniher, who died last month, at the match dubbed Big Freeze 12 – the fundraiser which raises awareness and funds for MND research programs.
Daniher’s widow Jan said the widespread and public support Neale received since his diagnosis for MND in 2013 will have a “profound and lasting impact” on the fight against the debilitating condition.
“We knew we had to do something, but we knew we couldn’t do it alone. So we asked for help,” an emotional Jan Daniher told the players of both clubs in the Olympic Room at the MCG.
“I remember the very first meeting. People from all areas of business came together – advertising, media, logistics, the AFL. And two very special clubs – Melbourne and Collingwood.
“Every one of them chose to join the fight, and that decision changed everything.
“To Melbourne and Collingwood, to the staff, to the players and to the past players, for 12 years now you’ve supported FightMND, and people touched by motor neurone disease without hesitation.
“Please never underestimate your influence, the influence you have, or the important role each of you have played.
“What you have helped build has made a profound and lasting impact – and it’s changing lives.”
That sentiment was echoed by Daniher’s daughter Bec, who said that standing in the packed room in front of the staff of both clubs, including the AFL and AFLW programs, was a bitter-sweet moment.
Magpies defender Jeremy Howe and Demons vice captain Jack Viney were among those in the audience.
Bec revealed her last conversation with her father was “actually about this moment”.
“I’m going to be completely honest, it’s incredibly challenging to be here today,” she said. “This is usually Dad’s moment. And it’s something that he valued so highly.
“He liked being able to come to [visit the] Melbourne and Collingwood [clubs], not just because of the game which he loved but because he had so much to share with you all.
“My last conversation with Dad was actually about this moment. He was looking forward to it. And he was preparing his own speech, which would have been so much more impressive than what I have ever got to say, which is why standing here feels a little bit bitter-sweet.”
Howe said it was a privilege to play on King’s Birthday – and the blue beanies seen across the MCG were a signature of the day.
“Don’t get me wrong, I love seeing a massive crowd with black and white fans, but equally on Kings Birthday seeing a sea of blue warms the heart,” Howe said.
“It gives you a realisation of what’s really important and what we can do on the day.
“We put on the show for two hours but it’s a lot more than that.”
Collingwood president Barry Carp thanked the family for continuing their fight against MND.
“You’re here showing up, still fighting,” Carp said.
“From my perspective, our perspective, that tells you everything about who he was and everything about the family that he built.
“On behalf of everyone in this room we’re so sorry for your loss, and we’re so grateful for the grace and the strength and the courage that you’ve shown.”
A tribute to Daniher, who forged an 82-game playing career with Essendon, was held before each AFL game at the weekend. His state funeral will be held on Wednesday, June 10.
Arrow, who played for South Sydney, is involved with FightMND, the organisation Daniher founded after his diagnosis 13 years ago. It has raised millions of dollars for research into the crippling disease for which there is no cure.
Arrow is not expected to address the players from either team before the match.
Arrow’s diagnosis and public acknowledgement of the disease has added to the enormous groundswell from the AFL community around Daniher, bringing Australia’s other major winter code into the cause of combating MND.
On the day his diagnosis was made public on May 20, Arrow vowed to confront it head on, just as he did in a decade-long career in which he played in a grand final, won a State of Origin series and as recently as last year was the Rabbitohs’ player of the season.
“I wanted to do this to let people know I am OK, and I am ready to fight. Nothing is going to take me out easy,” he said in an interview with Nine which showed his speech has already been significantly affected.
“I want to do everything I can. Any trial, any medication that will maintain me for as long as possible.
“I want to inspire as well. I want to inspire other people who have been diagnosed.”
Noted for his toughness, his unyielding defence and his work ethic, Arrow played 178 NRL games for the Broncos, Gold Coast and Souths between 2016 and 2025.
He was knocked out in the first half of the Rabbitohs’ 2021 grand final against Penrith. Arrow also appeared 12 times for Queensland between 2018 and 2023.
Jake Niall is a Walkley award-winning sports journalist and chief AFL writer for The Age.Connect via X or email.
