Emotions ran high at the MCG on Wednesday as Neale Daniher's grandchildren delivered heartbreaking speeches during the AFL legend's state funeral. The former Australian of the Year, who died on May 25 at age 65 after a 13-year battle with motor neurone disease (MND), was remembered by family, friends, and the community.
Grandchildren's Touching Tributes
Grandson Cooper, alongside his father Luke, spoke about his grandfather's unique way of showing affection. 'When I was born, pops couldn't hold me with his arms. He still found a way to rock me with his legs,' Cooper said. 'Even when we couldn't talk, he used his machine to chat and called me and my brother Ollie 'cheeky monkeys'.' He added, 'My pops was strong, brave and courageous and I hope I can be like him when I grow up. I miss you Poppy, play on.'
Granddaughter Rosie, with her mother Loz by her side, expressed her longing for her grandfather. 'I love Poppy very much, I wish he came back,' she said. 'I love everywhere he took me when I was born. He would rock me to sleep on his legs. I love reading to pop and I can still read to him. I wish he could come back to the Big Freeze. Poppy, I see you as a star in the sky. I hope you got to see me push the sliders down. I love you, Pop. Goodbye.'
Wife Jan's Emotional Speech
Earlier in the service, Daniher's wife Jan delivered a moving tribute, referencing the film Parenthood's metaphor of choosing between a merry-go-round and a rollercoaster. 'Grandma chose the rollercoaster and so did Neale,' she said. 'The rollercoaster is a metaphor for life – unpredictable, full of highs and lows, unexpected turns and sudden challenges.' Jan highlighted her husband's love for learning and the life lessons from football: 'The lessons sport taught us helped set us up for life – working as a team, learning to win and to lose, learning resilience and discipline.' She became emotional when speaking about fatherhood: 'The most important role of all was becoming a father to our four children. It gave him a new perspective on life, he adored being a dad, and it gave his life its greatest meaning.' She remembered him for his 'integrity, humility and honesty' and his 'sharp wit, his cheeky smile, his love of family and friends, and his wonderful love of laughter.'
Daughter Lauren's Proud Remembrance
Daughter Lauren, holding back tears, recalled her father's determination. 'Dad always said that when life throws you a challenge, you have two options: You can flourish, or you can fold. And didn't you flourish?' she said. 'None of this was easy. Losing the ability to communicate, to move, to breathe. You could have complained, but you never did. You got up each day and focused on what you could do, and you made the most of every single moment. You could have folded, but you never did.' She added, 'I'll miss walking through the front door and seeing you smile from your chair. I will miss the look of annoyance when I misunderstood what you were trying to communicate. I will miss that cheeky grin you would have on your face while you typed a smart-arse comment. We will play on for you, Dad. I love you.'
Brother Anthony and Friend Chris Fagan
Daniher's brother Anthony described him as 'a beautiful brother' who 'laughed with us, he teased us, gave us advice, whether we asked for it or not, and always stood beside us.' Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan said, 'I've got three heroes in my life: my dad, my mum, and Neale. He wouldn't hesitate to give you feedback on the field but you knew it'd come from a great place. Neale made me feel valued, he gave me confidence, he believed in me. I'm so thankful to him for that.'
Premier's Tribute and Daniher's Legacy
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan praised Daniher's work raising awareness for MND, saying he brought 'a stream of light' where there was once 'terrible darkness.' She read from a letter he sent her: 'You can't always choose what happens, but you can always choose how you respond. Waiting for certainty keeps you stuck and courage begins the moment you decide.' Allan noted that Daniher rose from his wheelchair to accept his Australian of the Year award in 2024, standing 'tall and proud.'
Daniher's battle with MND began in 2013. He co-launched FightMND, which has raised over $141 million for research. The 12th annual Big Freeze fundraiser at the MCG on Saturday saw a $40 million donation from Queensland couple Quentin and Kylie Birt and $500,000 from the Victorian government. Thousands attended the funeral, wearing blue beanies and scarves, to bid farewell to a man who 'changed the nation.'
