Former Melbourne captain Garry Lyon has called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to write a "dirty big cheque" for FightMND in honour of Neale Daniher. The AFL great died at the age of 65 after fighting Motor Neurone Disease for 13 years.
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TRANSCRIPT:
For the past 12 years, a lineup of players and celebrities have taken a dip in a freezing pool at the M-C-G to raise money for Motor Neurone Disease research ahead of the annual Kings Birthday Collingwood and Melbourne game.
The Big Freeze was the initiative of former AFL Player and Melbourne coach Neale Daniher, who was diagnosed with M-N-D in 2013.
He went on to spend thirteen years helping to raise at least $115 million for research through the Big Freeze - and beanie sales - through his charity, Fight MND.
ANNOUNCER: "There she is, the reigning Wimbledon champion. Of course, recently retired. She's our favourite here in Australia. Put your hands together for Ash Barty."
The game this year will go on without him, after Daniher's death at the age of 65.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has led tributes in Parliament.
"With the passing of Neale Daniher we all grieve for a great Australian. On behalf of the government and the people of Australia I offer our heartfelt condolences to the Daniher family."
But the PM is also in the spotlight after former Melbourne captain Garry Lyon called on Anthony Albanese to write a "big cheque" for FightMND in honour of Neale Daniher.
Lyon also wants the PM to head down the slide at this year's Big Freeze.
On Fox Footy, he's recalled his memories of playing at Melbourne, when Neale took over as coach and helped them go from last place to a preliminary final within a year.
"And he famously said to me, Jerrod - I'd played six games, five games, had a back surgery. And he said, listen if you're going to break down let's break you down properly, son.' So I did the full pre-season, and - he got me through another year."
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has confirmed a state memorial service has been offered to the family.
She says he is deserving of the honour.
"Yes, as an incredible footballer and the contribution he has made to the game here in this state and nationally. But that incredible commitment and determination following his diagnosis of MND, and his determination not just to fight the beast but to give his energy to finding a cure, to raising money for a cure, and how that has touched the lives of so, so many families."
Daniher was named Australian of the Year in 2025 for those efforts, saying at the ceremony with the help of his computer speech device that he wanted to make a positive difference.
"It lit a fire within me, a determination to fight for those who are currently affected, and those who will face it after me."
His family have released a statement that says Neale's fight was never his alone, and that it became something so much bigger.
The statement said it would only be fitting to finish with his own words: play on.
