Motor neurone disease campaigner and former Australian of the Year Neale Daniher dies
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-25/ex-essendon-afl-player-coach-neale-daniher-dies/104227390
Motor neurone disease campaigner and former Australian of the Year Neale Daniher dies
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-25/ex-essendon-afl-player-coach-neale-daniher-dies/104227390
35 Comments
Legend both on and off the field
Condolences to his family, and the wider MND community who benefited from his advocacy and fundraising
That’s just so sad. RIP to an absolute legend
Farewell mate ❤️💙
Your inspiration lives on in all of us. Certainly me. 🩵
RIP to an absolute legend.
He did so much for MND awareness and fundraising, it’s incredible.
Very sad to hear. RIP.
One of the greatest, toughest Aussies ever to grace this country. We’re poorer without him but enrichened by his legacy.
Vale, Neale.
He transcended footy…and started a conversation.
R.I.P
What a huge loss. At least his pain is over.
He left the world a better place than he found it.
Fuck man. I’d never heard of him until I read his book about resilience. Dude was a warrior. He really inspired me. RIP Neale, you made a real difference.
A truly great Australian. RIP.
One of our very best ❤️ Vale great man
Met him through a work event. The company I was working at was working with Fight MND on a massive fundraiser. He took the time to go around the room and have a conversation with every single person there, genuinely listening.
He was an incredibly kind person.
Rip legend.
State funeral please (if the family wants it)
He fought and lasted so long. He can finally rest now. What a terrible disease
Was only thinking of Neale the other day when Jai Arrow’s news came out. What an absolute warrior for those that suffer from such a horrible disease. He became an icon of Victoria and Australian sport in general.
Through the toughest battles, Neale never stopped fighting. Condolences to his loved ones and may he rest in peace.
RIP. Despite being melburnian I’m not an AFL fan but this guy did so much to promote awareness of MND and raise money for research. Those big freeze beanies are everywhere now
I was just thinking this morning i gotta get my beanie. Rip to a legend
We should have a day of mourning for this legend, I am so serious. He did so much good with the little time he had left.
what a legend.
He’s done more for medical research than any politician has achieved in the last decade. RIP to a legend.
RIP you fought the good fight mate
13 years of fighting MND while campaigning and fundraising to find a cure.
Legend.
RIP 😭
What a great, courageous and charitable man. He will be remembered very fondly. Rest in peace.
Absolute warrior until the end.
Rest in Peace Neale
❤️💙
Thank you for everything
So sorry to hear this.
Vale Neale Daniher. What an amazing human, he has certainly made a difference and his efforts will continue to make a difference for years to come. Sincere condolences to his family and friends.
VALE
> Neale Daniher and three of his brothers played at Essendon at the same time in the early 1980s.
The fuck they did. Anthony and Chris weren’t even at Essendon in the early 1980s.
God the ABC is shit now
Very sad for Neale’s family and friends
Rest in Peace you’ve been an absolute champion in everything you’ve done 😢😢
Rest in Peace legend. An extraordinary contribution he has made raising money and awareness for a horrendous disease.
Absolutely legend. This sucks so much. Only have love and respect for Neale.
Oh crap!! There goes one of the toughest and biggest hearted men to pull on a jersey in any sport.
R.I.P. Legend.
RIP absolute legend
The word “great” is overused these days, but Neale Daniher was a genuinely great Australian. Raising $115m for MND – an enormous amount for a horribly underfunded disease – is extraordinary. If anyone is deserving of a state funeral, it’s him.
Rest easy, Neale.