Ahead of today’s Big Freeze 3 for MND fundraiser at the MCG, Danny Frawley looks at a snapshot of Neale Daniher’s career and names his top five moments.
5. All four Daniher’s play against St Kilda -Round 22 1990
"What a great day. Neale (has had) four knee operations, they’re on top of the ladder," Frawley said.
"Kevin Sheedy rests (Tim) Watson, (Paul) Salmon and Mark Thompson to put Chris and Neale in who probably weren’t in their best team. It was great."
4. Turning the Carlton game in 1981
Daniher revealed on SEN last week the day Sheeds swapped him with his brother Terry in the closing stages at Princes Park.
Trailing by four goals in time on, the half back flanker moved forward and kicked the last two goals to see the Bombers home by a point.
“I know why (Sheeds) he did it, my brother Terry wasn’t getting a kick,” he joked.
“I said to Kevin at three quarter time, how long are you going to put up with this, any danger of getting him out of there?
“We finally got him out of there and I went forward, we crossed over and I said to Terry, about time.”
3. Made Essendon captain at 21
"I think what we need to understand what a great footballer Neale Daniher was pre-injury," he said.
"He was made captain of Essendon pre 83-84-85 at the age of 21. They had some superstar players. Unfortunately he never played a game as captain due to his knee operations."
2. Coaching record at Melbourne
"This one gets washed away far too easily," he said.
"Neale coached Melbourne for ten years and got them into finals for six. His first year (1997) he got them off the bottom, 1998 he got them into the preliminary final.
"They had a bit of a dip in 99, got them into a Grand Final against Essendon his old mob who were unbeatable and only lost one game in 2000.
"I’m staggered how he never got another opportunity after that record…we think of his last 7-8 games and somehow that brand gets tarnished as a coach. He should have coached again."
1. His work with MND
"Obviously his work with MND is number one. It’s amazing and his work with his family," Frawley said.
"I was lucky enough to talk to Neale and he calls it “The Beast”. It’s been terrible for him, but it’s actually allowed him five or six years with his family all the time.
"It’s tough, but it’s been great for him, you do get a tear in your eye when you speak to him, but in a roundabout way he’s had some quality time with the family and he’s done such a great job for the community.
"That’s why football’s such a great game when we can promote this and it will be promoted forever and a day now."
Head to fightmnd.org.au for more information.