Neale Daniher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Neale Francis DaniherAO |
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Daniher in June 2017
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| Personal information | |||
| Nickname(s) | The Reverend | ||
| Date of birth | 15 February 1961 | ||
| Place of birth | West Wyalong, New South Wales | ||
| Original team | Ungarie (NRFNL) Assumption College |
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| Position(s) | Half back flank | ||
| Career highlights | |||
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AFL
Essendon Football Club
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Neale Francis Daniher AO (born 15 February 1961) is a famous Australian rules footballer. He played for the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Later, he became a coach for the Melbourne Football Club. Neale also coached at Essendon, Fremantle, and West Coast.
Neale has three brothers, Terry, Anthony, and Chris. All of them also played for Essendon. In 2013, Neale was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND). Since then, he has become a well-known champion for medical research.
Contents
Early Life and Sporting Beginnings
Neale Daniher was born on February 15, 1961. He was the third child of James and Edna Daniher. He grew up in West Wyalong, New South Wales.
For primary school, Neale went to St Joseph's Catholic School in Ungarie. He then attended St Patrick's College and Assumption College, Kilmore. After school, he studied at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University. There, he learned about new computer technology.
From a young age, Neale loved sports. He played Australian rules football in the Northern Riverina Football League (NRFL). He also played rugby league at school. Neale won several "best and fairest" awards in the NRFL.
In 1978, both the South Melbourne and Essendon clubs wanted Neale to play for them. After some legal talks, Essendon won the right to sign him. This was because South Melbourne had traded Neale's brother, Terry Daniher, to Essendon earlier.
AFL Playing Career
Playing for Essendon
Neale Daniher played for Essendon from 1979 to 1990. He played 66 games in his first three years. However, injuries, especially to his knees, limited him to only 16 more games over the next ten seasons. He played a total of 82 games for Essendon.
In 1982, Neale was chosen as Essendon's captain. But he could not lead the team due to his injuries.
On September 1, 1990, Neale and his three brothers made history. They became the first four brothers to play for the same team in a single VFL/AFL game. The brothers also played together for New South Wales against Victoria in a State of Origin match on May 22, 1990.
Neale retired from AFL at the end of the 1990 season. He then played for Werribee in the Victorian Football Association in 1991.
Coaching Career
After his playing days, Neale Daniher started a coaching career.
Assistant Coach at Essendon (1992–1994)
His first coaching job was as an assistant coach at the Essendon Football Club. He worked under senior coach Kevin Sheedy. During this time, Essendon won the 1993 premiership. Neale left Essendon at the end of the 1994 season.
Assistant Coach at Fremantle (1995–1997)
In 1995, Neale joined the Fremantle Football Club. He was an assistant coach for their first season in the AFL. He stayed with Fremantle until the end of the 1997 season.
Senior Coach at Melbourne (1998–2007)
Neale Daniher then became the senior coach of the Melbourne Football Club. He coached the team for 10 seasons, from 1998 to 2007.
In his first season, 1998, Neale led Melbourne to finish fourth on the ladder. They won fourteen games. However, they were knocked out of the finals by North Melbourne.
The 1999 season was tougher for the Demons. They finished 14th with only six wins.
In the 2000 season, Neale led Melbourne to the 2000 AFL Grand Final. They played against his old team, Essendon. Melbourne lost the game by 60 points.
After reaching the Grand Final, the Demons finished 11th in 2001. In 2002, they returned to the finals. They beat North Melbourne but were then eliminated by the Adelaide Crows.
The 2003 season was difficult. Melbourne finished 14th, winning only five games. They lost their last nine games in a row. This made people question Neale's coaching role.
In 2004, Neale became more vocal in the media. He was nicknamed "The Reverend" for his strong speaking skills. This helped the club gain more support. Melbourne led the AFL ladder after 18 rounds, winning 14 games. But a late losing streak saw them finish 5th. They were knocked out of the finals by Essendon.
The 2005 season was similar. Melbourne had a good run but faded late. They made the finals, finishing seventh. However, they were beaten by Geelong in the elimination final.
In the 2006 season, Melbourne improved. After losing their first three games, they finished seventh and made the finals. They beat St Kilda but were then eliminated by Fremantle in the semi-finals.
The 2007 season started with nine straight losses for Melbourne. Neale announced he would resign at the end of the season. Two days later, he changed his mind and said his last game would be Round 13 against Essendon. Melbourne lost that game by 2 points. Neale then stepped down, and assistant coach Mark Riley took over.
After Coaching
West Coast Eagles (2008–2013)
After coaching, Neale became the general manager of football operations for the West Coast Eagles. This was in 2008. In September 2013, he left this role for health reasons. He kept his health condition private until August 2014.
Fighting Motor Neurone Disease (MND)
Neale Daniher was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in 2013. He shared this news with the public the next year. As of 2023, there is no cure for MND.
Neale decided to use his time to teach Australians about the disease. He helped start a charity called FightMND. This charity raises money for research. They do this through big events, donations, and selling items like blue and grey beanies.
Since 2015, the annual King's Birthday match between Melbourne and Collingwood has partnered with FightMND. This special game is a big fundraiser for MND research.
Awards and Recognition
Neale Daniher has received many awards for his work. In 2016, he was given the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) award. This was for raising awareness and funds for MND research.
In 2021, he was promoted to Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). This was for his "distinguished service" to people with MND and their families. He was recognized for his advocacy, public education, and fundraising.
In 2025, Neale Daniher was named Australian of the Year. This was to honor his amazing fundraising efforts and his strong fight against MND.
See also
- List of Australian rules football families
