The Melbourne Cricket Club would like to congratulate Neale Daniher AO for his recognition as 2025 Australian of the Year.
Daniher, a former footballer and coach, played 82 games for Essendon before coaching Melbourne between 1998 and 2007. However, it would be his impact after his sporting career that would see Daniher become the face of finding a cure for a terminal disease.
In 2013, Daniher was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND). A name given to a group of rare neurodegenerative disorders that impacts nerve cells controlling muscles, MND takes away the individual’s ability to move, speak, and eventually breathe. With no cure, the average life expectancy of a patient with MND is 27-months.
But over 10 years later, Daniher continues to defy the odds fighting ‘The Beast’.
Daniher, along with the late Dr Ian Davis OAM, founded FightMND shortly after his diagnosis with the aim of raising awareness and funding vital research to one day find a cure.
Since then, FightMND has raised over $100 million for MND research and Daniher has inspired thousands of Australians through his tireless campaigning and bringing MND to the forefront through events, none more impactful than the annual Big Freeze at the ‘G match on King’s Birthday.
The Big Freeze match – contested between Melbourne and Collingwood – is a fan-favourite occasion on the AFL calendar which sees the MCG turn into a sea of blue Big Freeze beanies and rivalries are set aside pre-match for a cause.
As part of the event, each year a selection of iconic Australians – with names including Lleyton Hewitt, Andrew Gaze, Ash Barty and Eric Bana - plunge down the Big Freeze slide into the icy, freezing pool below all while donning themed costumes.
Daniher’s bravery in the face of his diagnosis has seen him become an inspiration to so many around the country. Daniher received a Member of the Order of Australia award (AM) in 2016 and was promoted to Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2021.
For more information on FightMND and Big Freeze at the ‘G, visit the FightMND website.