Jump to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.
Demonland

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

Neale Daniher ~ Australian of the Year

Satan
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

I went on the Daniher drive one year because my workplace was a major sponsor and I was the obvious choice.

The love for him from family, ex Essendon team mates and the Dees players he coached was overwheming.

He was a great person before he was confronted by the beast and now legendary for his work fighting it

  • Quote
    • Love 7
     

    Congratulations to Neale Daniher on such a great well deserved honour. What a great man, and a great family. Special congratulations to Jan Daniher for been such a great lady. 

  • Quote
    • Like 5
    • Love 1
     

     To found the MND charity and raise $100,000,000 for it, is an unbelievable achievement.

    And he is such an inspiring, humble and affable man.  I briefly met him once when he was coach.  No airs and graces - just very down to earth.

    Fantastic role model and rapt that he is a Demon through and through.  Despite his other AFL affiliations he has stayed true to ❤️💙

    Edited by Lucifers Hero

  • Quote
    • Like 3
    • Love 5

    Outstanding choice for an amazing human being!  💖

  • Quote
    • Like 6
    • Love 1
    • Grapeviney changed the title to Neale Daniher ~ Australian of the Year

    A message from the man himself, copied from Neil's FB Page:

     

    I am deeply honoured to accept the title of Australian of the Year 2025.
     
    This recognition belongs to the entire MND community - the families, carers, researchers, volunteers, everyone at the Fight MND foundation, MND state associations, and the countless Australians who have joined us in this fight.
     
    It also belongs to my family, headed by my wife Jan and our children and their partners, who have supported me every step of the way.

    My journey began in 2013 when I was diagnosed with motor neurone disease - a beast of a disease. It doesn’t discriminate; it robs you of your ability to move, speak, swallow, and breathe. But it also ignited a determination in me to fight for those affected now and in the future.
     
    I chose to fight because if I didn’t, how could I expect anyone else to? I chose to hope because I believe in the decency and generosity of Australians. I thought, if people truly understood the challenges we face, they’d join the fight with me. And you have - oh, how you have. So thank you.
     
    In my lifetime, I hope we find the causes of MND, better treatments, and ultimately, a cure. Beyond that, I hope to leave a legacy that shows we all have the power to choose to fight, to smile, and to act. Because the mark of a person isn’t what they say; it’s what they do.
     
    Thank you for believing in this fight. Together, we will win it.

    #AusoftheYear Australian of the Year Awards

     

     

    In all the appearances he makes, I'm amazed at how humble, greatful and inspirational is.  With his ability to reach out to other people and bring them together, it's no wounder he was a coach.  I bought my nephew Neil's book "When all is said and done" a few years back for Christmas, but haven't actually read it myself; something I think I should make time for.

    Queens Birthday this year will be huge.  Also wounder if there will be a bit of a pre-election promise of funds for MND research?

    Edited by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Thanks 2
    • Love 4
     
    15 hours ago, Deevout said:

    A big lump in my throat. What a courageous legend Neil is, well done Champion. 

    Well said Deevout.

    He is the personification of courage and strength.

    An incredible human being and despite the term being thrown around....a true inspiration.

     

  • Quote
    • Like 3
    • Love 1

    Neale is a wonderful and courages person and this award is richly deserved 

    His strength in adversity and positivity should be an inspiration to all 

    A great man in a great country 

  • Quote
    • Like 4
    • Love 1

    A short anecdote which sums up Neale and the Daniher family's efforts. It was around 2014 or 2105 shortly after Neale had been diagnosed with MND. A "Sacked Coaches""  event was held at the Reggio Calabria Club on Brunswick Road.  I believe the special guest was Terry Wallace.  Proceeds from the event went to the newly formed Fight MND and Neale came to our table and shared with a close friend of his that the cheque was for $2,000. Whilst obviously appreciative of the donation, he said "Gee it's going to be a long, hard road to raise any serious money at this rate".

    Whilst the beast has not been defeated the rest, as they say, is history. The leadership, effort and organisational skills he has shown are truly remarkable. Hats off Neale. 

  • Quote
    • Like 4
    • Thanks 1

    Congratulations Neale and the whole Daniher Family I cannot find the words that sufficiently describe his courage and his achievements suffice to say he is the most deserved Australian Of The Year that I can remember.❤️💙💕🌸

  • Quote
    • Love 3

    Neale Daniher is Unbelievable, Amazing, Incredible and that doesn’t do him justice! WOW what a human being!

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Love 2

    Agree with the above comments.

    I met him twice. Lovely man.

    I don't believe in karma. Terrible things happen to people like Neale .... and Triplechins and ... don't get me started !!!

  • Quote
    • Love 1

    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
    Reply to this topic...
    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • AFLW REPORT: Collingwood

      Expectations of a comfortable win for Narrm at Victoria Park quickly evaporated as the match turned into a tense nail-biter. After a confident start by the Demons, the Pies piled on pressure and forced red and blue supporters to hold their collective breath until after the final siren. In a frenetic, physical contest, it was Captain Kate’s clutch last quarter goal and a missed shot from Collingwood’s Grace Campbell after the siren which sealed a thrilling 4-point win. Finally, Narrm supporters could breathe easy.

        • Thumb Down
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 1 reply
      Demonland

    • CASEY: Williamstown

      The Casey Demons issued a strong statement to the remaining teams in the VFL race with a thumping 76-point victory in their Elimination Final against Williamstown. This was the sixth consecutive win for the Demons, who stormed into the finals from a long way back with scalps including two of the teams still in flag contention. Senior Coach Taylor Whitford would have been delighted with the manner in which his team opened its finals campaign with high impact after securing the lead early in the game when Jai Culley delivered a precise pass to a lead from Noah Yze, who scored his first of seven straight goals for the day. Yze kicked his second on the quarter time siren, by which time the Demons were already in control. The youngster repeated the dose in the second term as the Seagulls were reduced to mere

        • Thanks
      • 0 replies
      Demonland

    • AFLW PREVIEW: Collingwood

      Narrm time isn’t a standard concept—it’s the time within the traditional lands of Narrm, the Woiwurrung name for Melbourne. Indigenous Round runs for rounds 3 and 4 and is a powerful platform to recognise the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in sport, community, and Australian culture. This week, suburban footy returns to the infamous Victoria Park as the mighty Narrm take on the Collingwood Magpies at 1:05pm Narrm time, Sunday 31 August. Come along if you can.

        • Thumb Down
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 9 replies
      Demonland

    • AFLW REPORT: St. Kilda

      The Dees demolished the Saints in a comprehensive 74-pointshellacking.  We filled our boots with percentage — now a whopping 520.7% — and sit atop the AFLW ladder. Melbourne’s game plan is on fire, and the competition is officially on notice.

        • Clap
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 4 replies
      Demonland

    • REPORT: Collingwood

      It was yet another disappointing outcome in a disappointing year, with Melbourne missing the finals for the second consecutive season. Indeed, it wasn’t even close, as the Demons' tally of seven wins was less than half the number required to rank among the top eight teams in the competition. When the dust of the game settled and supporters reflected on Melbourne's  six-point defeat at the hands of close game specialists Collingwood, Max Gawn's words about his team’s unfulfilled potential rang true … well, almost. 

        • Thanks
      • 1 reply
      Demonland

    • POSTGAME: Collingwood

      Thank god this season is over. Bring on 2026.

        • Clap
        • Like
      • 379 replies
      Demonland
    View All

    Configure browser push notifications
    Chrome (Android)
    1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
    2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
    3. Adjust your preference.
    Chrome (Desktop)
    1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
    2. Select Site settings.
    3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.