NEALE Daniher’s inspirational speech to the Melbourne players in the lead-up to its round eight win over the Western Bulldogs at the MCG made a genuine impact on the Demons, says Heritier Lumumba.
Speaking in the build-up to Monday’s Queen’s Birthday clash against Collingwood at the ‘G, Lumumba said it was impossible not to have Daniher as part of the team’s preparations, given his ‘Big Freeze at the ‘G’ cause is part of this year’s clash. Daniher is fighting motor neurone disease and his event aims to raise funds to help find a cure to rid MND.
“Neale spoke with us a couple of weeks ago and that was extremely inspirational for our group,” Lumumba told Dee TV.
“It was able to allow us to transcend some of our own personal stresses and worries and realise that life is far greater than anything we do, whether it’s sport or any quarrel we may have with family or whatever that might be.
“Life is a gift and the gift that we can give to Neale – in terms of the struggles he’s going through – is not only performing well and representing his request for us to just keep fighting, regardless of what goes on, but also to get behind his cause and his charity with the ‘Big Freeze at the ‘G’.
“I think everyone should be a part of it, because we really do need to work together as a society to alleviate some of the suffering that goes on in our community.”
Aside from playing his first match as a Demon on Queen’s Birthday, he said there was “definitely a difference” to the way Melbourne and Collingwood approached this match.
“Playing at Collingwood, you’re involved in many blockbusters – or what’s deemed to be blockbusters – and playing at the ‘G and in front of large numbers of people,” he said.
“But at Melbourne, we don’t necessarily have that luxury yet – I’m sure we’ll get there and I’ve got full faith in the direction the club is going off the field.
“Having said that, I’ve noticed the difference between how we view this game and as a Collingwood player, we would see this as just another game in terms of not having a different crowd or different build-up.
“But for us, the difference is that we know that there is going to be more people in the stadium and more energy for us. We want to play on the big stage and we want to be able to make a statement like we have playing on the Anzac Day [eve] game, because it is a real privilege to be able to play in front a large number of people and have that sense of stage.
“I think that’s why the AFL is going through the stage of equalisation, which I wholeheartedly believe in, because I think every player who plays in the AFL should be able to experience some of the experiences I’ve been fortunate to have over a 10-year career at Collingwood.”
On the back of a disappointing 61-point loss to Port Adelaide at TIO Traeger Park last round, Lumumba said the team was making the most of its nine-day break with recovery and preparation for the Queen’s Birthday clash.
“We’re still regrouping, regardless of whatever game we play and regardless of whatever result, it takes a physical toll on your body and also has a mental and emotional toll,” he said.
“The challenge of any AFL side is to be able to ride the peaks and troughs of the season – the emotional rollercoaster and the physical rollercoaster – and just bounce back, stick to the task, follow the processes, back up and do it again.
“That’s the challenge that we’re on – we’re trying to build strong habits with the young team that we have and we’re trying to develop strong leaders and I’m part of that development, so it’s a really exciting time to be at this football club.”
