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{{short description|Australian rules footballer, born 1961}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2015}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Neale Daniher<br><small>{{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100|AO}}</small>
| image = Neale Daniher.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| caption = Daniher in June 2017
| full_name = Neale Francis Daniher
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1961|2|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[West Wyalong, New South Wales|West Wyalong]], [[New South Wales]]
| nickname = The Reverend
| originalteam = [[Ungarie Football Club|Ungarie]] ([[Northern Riverina Football League|NRFNL]])<br>[[Assumption College, Kilmore|Assumption College]]
| height = 188 cm
| weight = 84 kg
| position = Half back flank
| years1 = 1979–1990
| club1 = [[Essendon Football Club|Essendon]]
| games_goals1 = 82 (32)
| years2 = 1991
| club2 = [[Werribee Football Club|Werribee]] 
| games_goals2 = 14 (36)
| games_goalstotal = 96 (68)
| coachyears1 = 1998&ndash;2007
| coachclub1 = [[Melbourne Demons|Melbourne]]
| coachgames_wins1 = 223 (108–114–1)
| careerhighlights = 
* VFL Recruit of the Year 1978
* Victorian representative (2 games)
* New South Wales representative (1 game)
* [[W.S. Crichton Medal|Essendon Best and Fairest]] 1981
* Essendon captain 1982
}}

'''Neale Francis Daniher''' {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AO}} (born 15 February 1961) is a former [[Australian rules football]]er who played with the [[Essendon Football Club]] in the [[Australian Football League]] (AFL). He was later the coach of the [[Melbourne Football Club]] between 1998 and 2007, and also held coaching positions with Essendon, [[Fremantle Football Club|Fremantle]] and [[West Coast Eagles|West Coast]]. His brothers, [[Terry Daniher|Terry]], [[Anthony Daniher|Anthony]] and [[Chris Daniher|Chris]], also played for Essendon.<ref name="Bonz">{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/05/05/1083635203925.html|title=Sporting Life: Bonzer - it's farmer Neale|first=Geoff |last=McClure|date=6 May 2004}}</ref>

Daniher was diagnosed with [[motor neurone disease]] (MND) in 2013 and is now known as a prominent campaigner for medical research concerning the disease. His advocacy resulted in him being named the 2025 [[Australian of the Year]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/afl-legend-and-mnd-campaigner-neale-daniher-named-2025-australian-of-the-year-20250124-p5l73t.html|title=AFL legend and MND campaigner Neale Daniher named 2025 Australian of the Year|date=25 January 2025}}</ref>

== Early life and childhood ==
Daniher was born the third of eleven children of James "Jim" Daniher and Edna Daniher (née Erwin)<ref name="Bonz"/> on 15 February 1961 at West Wyalong Base Hospital. He attended St Joseph's Catholic School, Ungarie for his primary education before going to [[St Patrick's College, Goulburn|St Patrick's College]] in [[Goulburn, New South Wales|Goulburn]] and later [[Assumption College, Kilmore]], where he finished Year 12. He then went to the [[RMIT University|Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University]] (RMIT), where he learned about the emerging technology of the 1980s such as computers, obtaining a computer science degree.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-26 |title=How a terminal diagnosis changed Neale Daniher's life and finances |url=https://www.moneymag.com.au/how-a-terminal-diagnosis-changed-neale-danihers-life-and-finances |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=Money magazine |language=en}}</ref> While studying at RMIT he resided at [[Newman College, Melbourne|Newman College]]. 

It was during his childhood that Daniher showed his love for sport, namely Australian rules football, playing in the [[Northern Riverina Football League]] (NRFL) on Saturdays while playing rugby league at school carnivals. During his time in the NRFL he won several best and fairest awards before going to college, where he played both Australian rules football and rugby union. In 1978  both the [[Sydney Swans|South Melbourne]] and [[Essendon Football Club|Essendon]] football clubs approached Daniher as a player. After a legal battle between the two clubs, Essendon won the right to recruit Daniher as South Melbourne had signed a contract which said that Essendon had this right due to South Melbourne trading Terry Daniher to Essendon in exchange for [[Neville Fields]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Fields of dreams|date=8 June 2012|first=Peter |last=Hanlon|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/fields-of-dreams-20120607-1zz2y.html#ixzz2RmBKNYVG}}</ref>

==VFL/AFL playing career==
===Essendon===
From 1979 to 1990, Daniher played for [[Essendon Football Club|Essendon]] in the VFL/AFL. After playing 66 games in the first three years, injuries restricted him to only another 16 games in next ten seasons. A total of 82 games due to several knee injuries. He was appointed captain in 1982 but never led the side due to injury.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=y5VVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GpcDAAAAIBAJ&dq=daniher%20captain%201982%20injury&pg=2157%2C2736906|title=Demons bring back Wilson|first=Ron|last=Carter|work=The Age|date=16 June 1989}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player/Neale+Daniher/11276|title=NEALE DANIHER|access-date=1 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/1060382/neale-daniher-a-champion-in-football-hero-in-life|title=Neale Daniher: A champion in football, hero in life|date=15 February 2022|access-date=1 August 2022}}</ref>

On 1 September 1990 Daniher, alongside his three brothers, made history when they became the first quartet of brothers to play for the same team in a single VFL/AFL game.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/1990/051519900901.html|title=St Kilda v Essendon, Round 22, 1990|work=AFL Tables}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player/Neale+Daniher/11276|title=NEALE DANIHER|access-date=1 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/1060382/neale-daniher-a-champion-in-football-hero-in-life|title=Neale Daniher: A champion in football, hero in life|date=15 February 2022|access-date=1 August 2022}}</ref>

In the same year, the brothers also played together on 22 May 1990 in a State of Origin match for New South Wales versus Victoria.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/state-of-origin-team-line-ups-and-goals.1048615/page-3|title=State of Origin Team Lineups and Goals|work=Big Footy}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player/Neale+Daniher/11276|title=NEALE DANIHER|access-date=1 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/1060382/neale-daniher-a-champion-in-football-hero-in-life|title=Neale Daniher: A champion in football, hero in life|date=15 February 2022|access-date=1 August 2022}}</ref>

Daniher retired at the end of the [[1990 AFL season|1990 season]] but then played for [[Werribee Football Club|Werribee]] in the [[Victorian Football Association]] in 1991.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Herald-Sun News-Pictorial|publication-place=Melbourne, VIC|page=67|author=Damian Barrett|date=6 April 1991|title=Grand final action replay}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://australianfootball.com/players/player/Neale+Daniher/11276|title=NEALE DANIHER|access-date=1 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/1060382/neale-daniher-a-champion-in-football-hero-in-life|title=Neale Daniher: A champion in football, hero in life|date=15 February 2022|access-date=1 August 2022}}</ref>

==Coaching career==
===Essendon Football Club assistant coach (1992–1994)===
After his playing career was over, Daniher took up a career in coaching, with his first job coming when he became an assistant coach at the [[Essendon Football Club]] under senior coach [[Kevin Sheedy (Australian footballer)|Kevin Sheedy]] in 1992, which included the [[1993 AFL Grand Final|1993 premiership]] before leaving at the end of the 1994 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/265579/neale-daniher-timeline-an-inspiration|title=Neale Daniher timeline: an inspiration|date=8 June 2018|access-date=13 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/1060382/neale-daniher-a-champion-in-football-hero-in-life|title=Neale Daniher: A champion in football, hero in life|date=15 February 2022|access-date=1 August 2022}}</ref>

===Fremantle Football Club assistant coach (1995–1997)===
Daniher joined the [[Fremantle Football Club]] as an assistant coach under senior coach [[Gerard Neesham]] for their inaugural season in 1995, where he served in that position until the end of the 1997 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/265579/neale-daniher-timeline-an-inspiration|title=Neale Daniher timeline: an inspiration|date=8 June 2018|access-date=13 February 2022}}</ref>

===Melbourne Football Club senior coach (1998–2007)===
After his time with Fremantle, Daniher then became the senior coach of the [[Melbourne Football Club]] for 10 seasons from 1998 to 2007, when he replaced Melbourne Football Club caretaker senior coach [[Greg Hutchison]], who replaced [[Neil Balme]], after Balme was sacked in the middle of the 1997 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/265579/neale-daniher-timeline-an-inspiration|title=Neale Daniher timeline: an inspiration|date=8 June 2018|access-date=13 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.afana.com/news/2007/06/28/daniher-quit-coach|title=Daniher To Quit As Coach|date=28 June 2007|access-date=26 February 2022}}</ref>

In Daniher's first season as Demons senior coach in the [[1998 AFL season|1998 season]], Daniher guided Melbourne to finish fourth on the ladder with fourteen wins and eight losses. Melbourne were however eliminated by the eventual runners-up [[North Melbourne Football Club|North Melbourne]] in the preliminary final.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/265579/neale-daniher-timeline-an-inspiration|title=Neale Daniher timeline: an inspiration|date=8 June 2018|access-date=13 February 2022}}</ref>

In Daniher’s second season as Melbourne Football club senior coach in the [[1999 AFL season|1999 season]], it ended up being a disappointing one, as the Demons under Daniher fell back to finish in 14th position, notching up just six wins and sixteen losses.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/265579/neale-daniher-timeline-an-inspiration|title=Neale Daniher timeline: an inspiration|date=8 June 2018|access-date=24 February 2022}}</ref>

In the [[2000 AFL season|2000 season]] at the Melbourne Football Club, Daniher led the Demons to the [[2000 AFL Grand Final]] in his third season at the club where they played against his former team, [[Essendon Football Club|Essendon]], in a match that Melbourne lost by 60 points with the final score Essendon 19.21 (135) to Melbourne 11.9 (75).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/265579/neale-daniher-timeline-an-inspiration|title=Neale Daniher timeline: an inspiration|date=8 June 2018|access-date=13 February 2022}}</ref>

In the [[2001 AFL season|2001 season]], after the highs of reaching the Grand Final, the Demons under Daniher slips out of the eight and finished 11th with ten wins and twelve losses.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/265579/neale-daniher-timeline-an-inspiration|title=Neale Daniher timeline: an inspiration|date=8 June 2018|access-date=24 February 2022}}</ref>

In the [[2002 AFL season|2002 season]], the Demons under Daniher returned to the finals, defeating North Melbourne in the second elimination final at the MCG. However, the Demons under Daniher were eliminated by the [[Adelaide Crows]] at the MCG in the second semi-final.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/265579/neale-daniher-timeline-an-inspiration|title=Neale Daniher timeline: an inspiration|date=8 June 2018|access-date=24 February 2022}}</ref>

In the [[2003 AFL season|2003 season]], The Demons under Daniher fell back down the ladder to finish in fourteenth position on the ladder with only five wins for the year and seventeen losses. The Demons under Daniher also lost the last nine games in a row in the 2003 season; this put Daniher’s coaching position under scrutiny.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/265579/neale-daniher-timeline-an-inspiration|title=Neale Daniher timeline: an inspiration|date=8 June 2018|access-date=24 February 2022}}</ref>

In 2004, with Melbourne Football Club facing tough times in on and off the field areas, especially with Melbourne struggling for memberships and requiring the competitive balance fund for survival, Daniher made a more concerted effort to be more outspoken in the [[Mass media|media]] – and became known as "The Reverend" for his "preaching" skills. This helped the club's membership and public profile (a semi-final appearance in that year's [[Australian Football League pre-season competition|Wizard Cup]] also helped). After making the semi-finals of the Wizard Cup, the Demons under Daniher then led the AFL ladder after 18 rounds in the [[2004 AFL season|2004 season]] by winning 14 out of 18 games, before a 4-game losing streak saw them miss the top 4 altogether and finish 5th, where they were knocked out of the finals in the first week by Essendon in the first elimination final.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/265579/neale-daniher-timeline-an-inspiration|title=Neale Daniher timeline: an inspiration|date=8 June 2018|access-date=13 February 2022}}</ref>

The [[2005 AFL season|2005 season]] saw the Demons under Daniher enjoyed a similar run near the top of the ladder, but another late-season fade-out saw them temporarily lose their spot in the eight, before reclaiming their position with close wins over the Western Bulldogs and Geelong, and therefore making the finals, when they finished seventh with twelve wins and	ten losses.  However, The Demons under Daniher were comprehensively beaten and eliminated by [[Geelong Football Club|Geelong]] in the elimination final, which saw a second consecutive first week finals exit for the club.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/265579/neale-daniher-timeline-an-inspiration|title=Neale Daniher timeline: an inspiration|date=8 June 2018|access-date=13 February 2022}}</ref>

The Demons under Daniher improved in the [[2006 AFL season|2006 season]], after losing the first 3 games of the season, the club then finished seventh on the ladder and therefore made the finals. Melbourne under Daniher eliminated [[St Kilda Football Club|St Kilda]] in the second elimination final in the first finals week. However, the Demons under Daniher were eliminated by [[Fremantle Football Club|Fremantle]] in the semi-finals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/265579/neale-daniher-timeline-an-inspiration|title=Neale Daniher timeline: an inspiration|date=8 June 2018|access-date=13 February 2022}}</ref>

In the [[2007 AFL season|2007 season]], after the Demons under Daniher started the year with nine straight defeats. They won their next two matches, but a poor showing in a 49-point loss against cellar dwellers, Richmond in Round 12, 2007, and sitting at fifteenth, the second-last placed position on the ladder, put pressure on Daniher's coaching tenure. On 27 June 2007, Daniher announced that he would resign as Melbourne Football Club senior coach at the end of the 2007 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pressreader.com/article/282501474218184|title=Daniher falls on his sword|date=28 June 2007|access-date=26 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/265579/neale-daniher-timeline-an-inspiration|title=Neale Daniher timeline: an inspiration|date=8 June 2018|access-date=13 February 2022}}</ref> However, two days later, on 29 June 2007, Daniher reversed this decision and officially announced that the Round 13, 2007 clash against [[Essendon Football Club|Essendon]] would be his last game as Melbourne Demons senior coach.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-06-28/demon-days-almost-over-for-daniher/83554|title=Demon days almost over for Daniher|newspaper=ABC News |date=28 June 2007|access-date=26 February 2022}}</ref> Melbourne Football Club lost the game by 2 points. Daniher was then replaced by assistant coach [[Mark Riley (Australian rules coach)|Mark Riley]] as caretaker senior coach for the rest of the 2007 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/265579/neale-daniher-timeline-an-inspiration|title=Neale Daniher timeline: an inspiration|date=8 June 2018|access-date=13 February 2022}}</ref>

==Post-coaching career==
===West Coast Eagles general manager of football operations (2008–2013)===
After leaving coaching, he became the general manager of football operations for the [[West Coast Eagles]] in the 2008 season; in September 2013, he stood down from his role for health reasons but kept the condition private until August 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/health-problem-forces-daniher-to-leave-eagles-20130912-2tmzv.html|title=Health problem forces Daniher to leave Eagles|date=12 September 2013|access-date=26 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/265579/neale-daniher-timeline-an-inspiration|title=Neale Daniher timeline: an inspiration|date=8 June 2018|access-date=13 February 2022}}</ref>

==Illness==
Daniher was diagnosed with [[motor neurone disease]] (MND) in 2013 and the diagnosis was made public the following year. As of 2025, MND is incurable. Daniher decided to dedicate the remainder of his life to educating Australians about the disease.<ref>[http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/neale-daniher-former-essendon-champion-and-melbourne-coach-has-revealed-his-deadly-battle-with-motor-neurone-disease/story-fni0fit3-1227027467191 "Neale Daniher, former Essendon champion and Melbourne coach has revealed his deadly battle with motor neurone disease"], ''Herald Sun'', 17 August 2014.</ref> He became co-founder and patron of the charity, [[FightMND]], which raises money for research through major events, direct donations and the sale of clothing and merchandise including blue and grey [[Knit cap|beanies]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Neale Daniher|url=https://fightmnd.org.au/team/neale-daniher/|access-date=2021-06-17|website=FightMND|language=en-US}}</ref> The annual [[King's Birthday match (AFL)|King's Birthday match]] between Melbourne and Collingwood has partnered with the Big Freeze charity organisation since 2015 as a fundraiser event for MND research. The Neale Daniher Trophy, awarded to the match's best player, is named in his honour.

==Honours==
Daniher received a Member of the [[Order of Australia]] (AM) award in the [[2016 Queen's Birthday Honours (Australia)|2016 Queen's Birthday Honours]] list for his efforts in raising awareness of [[Motor neuron disease|MND]] and raising funds to help find a cure for the disease.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Webb |first1=Carolyn |title=Football legend honoured for efforts to find a cure for deadly disease |url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/football-legend-honoured-for-efforts-to-find-a-cure-for-deadly-disease-20160609-gpfkfb.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Queen's Birthday 2016 Honour List |url=https://www.gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/honours/qb/qb2016/nS_29ods1A/Media%20Notes%20-%20AM%20(A-L)(1).pdf}}</ref> He was promoted to Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the [[2021 Queen's Birthday Honours (Australia)|2021 Queen's Birthday Honours]] for "distinguished service to people with Motor Neurone Disease and their families through advocacy, public education and fundraising initiatives".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mr Neale Francis Daniher AM |url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/2008865 |access-date=2021-06-13 |website=It's An Honour}}</ref>

In 2025, Daniher was named [[Australian of the Year]] in recognition of his fundraising and determination in fighting MND.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/australian-of-the-year-2025-former-afl-player-neale-daniher-named-winner/a425e28b-da28-40e9-aa61-09cbcb8b8aa9|title=Former AFL player and MND campaigner Neale Daniher named 2025 Australian of the year |last=Hohne|first=Josh|website=9news.com.au|date=25 January 2025|access-date=25 January 2025|language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[List of Australian rules football families]]

==Further reading==
* Terry Daniher, Neale Daniher, Anthony Daniher and Chris Daniher. ''The Danihers: The Story of Football's Favourite Family''. Sydney: Allen & Unwin, 2009. {{ISBN|1-74175-651-0}}
* Neale Daniher, with [[Warwick Green]], ''When All is Said & Done''. Sydney: Pan Macmillan Australia, 2019. {{ISBN|978-1760555511}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{AFL Tables|N/Neale_Daniher}}
* [https://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Players/Daniher,_Neale.php]
{{Essendon Football Club captains}}
{{Melbourne Football Club coaches}}
{{W. S. Crichton Medal}}
{{1990 New South Wales Australian rules football State of Origin players}}
{{1996 The Allies State of Origin players}}
{{1990 VFL pre-season draft}}
{{Australians of the Year}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Daniher, Neale}}
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Australian of the Year Award winners]]
[[Category:Australian rules footballers from New South Wales]]
[[Category:Essendon Football Club players]]
[[Category:Crichton Medal winners]]
[[Category:Victorian State of Origin players]]
[[Category:New South Wales Australian rules football State of Origin players]]
[[Category:Werribee Football Club players]]
[[Category:Melbourne Football Club coaches]]
[[Category:West Coast Eagles administrators]]
[[Category:People with motor neuron disease]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of Australia]]
[[Category:People educated at Assumption College, Kilmore]]
[[Category:People educated at St Patrick's College, Goulburn]]
[[Category:RMIT University alumni]]