THE player judgedbest on ground in the Queen’s Birthday match between Melbourne and Collingwoodwill be awarded the Neale Daniher Trophy.
Supported byMelbourne, Collingwood and the AFL, it is planned that the Daniher Trophy willbe presented annually following each Queen’s Birthday clash between the Demonsand Magpies.
Melbourne chairman Glen Bartlett said Daniher was a much-loved clubfigure.
“Neale is part ofthe fabric of the Melbourne Football Club,” he said.
“Neale’s contributionto the game and our club has been significant. He has been our most successfulcoach in recent times having taken us to thefinals a number of times, including our last Grand Final in 2000.
“We are delightedto recognise him by awarding the Neale DaniherTrophy. I know it will be a very proud day for the player who wins theaward.”
Collingwoodpresident Eddie McGuire said Daniher was a man of great principle.
“At Collingwood, we believe that if you don't stand for something youstand for nothing,” he said.
“Neale Daniher has always stood up, always stood tall and stands for somuch of what is good about our game and our community.
“Collingwood is proud to play for the Neale Daniher Trophyand begin, with Melbourne, a tradition that will honour his name and celebratethe wonderful qualities he embodies.”
A panel of judges for the award will be: Tim Watson (chairperson), TerryDaniher, Nick Maxwell and Garry Lyon.
Thejudges will all cast 3, 2, 1 votes with the chair having the deciding vote inthe case of a draw.
NealeDaniher will present this award on the ground post-game.
Bothteams will stay on the field for this presentation. This trophy is a fittingtribute to Daniher, who has made such a significant contribution to the gameand to Melbourne.
Therehas been an incredible ground swell of support for Daniher, who is fightingmotor neurone disease and is behind the ‘Big Freeze at the ‘G’.
Fundraisinghas surpassed $1million off the back of The Footy Show – an extraordinaryresult, which will only continue to grow with fundraising around the game onMonday.
Daniher, a starwith Essendon in the early 1980s, was cut down in the prime of his career withseveral serious knee injuries. He later became an outstanding Melbourne coach,guiding the club to six finals series, including the 2000 Grand Final.
His outstandingVFL/AFL career started back in 1979.
Hailing fromUngarie in New South Wales, he played 82 matches stretching from 1979-90.
He played 66matches in his first three seasons from 1979-81, before being appointed skipperin 1982. Yet knee injuries hindered his career so much that he never got tocaptain the Bombers. He didn’t play again until 1985, when he played fivematches. And it wasn’t until 1989-90 when he added another 11 matches.
Daniher createdhistory when he played with brothers Terry, Anthony and Chris twice –representing New South Wales in their stunning win over Victoria at the SCG andlater in round 22, playing for Essendon against St Kilda at Moorabbin.
It was the firsttime in VFL/AFL history four brothers had played in the one side. It was alsoDaniher’s final VFL/AFL match. He booted 3.4.
In 1991, Daniherplayed with Werribee in the VFA (now VFL). Before he coached Melbourne from1998-2007 in 223 matches – the third most in the club’s history – behind NormSmith (310) and Frank ‘Checker’ Hughes (258), he was an assistant coach atEssendon and Fremantle.
He also coachedThe Allies in State of Origin football.
After his coachingcareer, Daniher became general manager of football operations for the WestCoast Eagles from 2008.
Since beingdiagnosed with MND, he has been a passionate ambassador for finding a cure.
