AFL great Neale Daniher has died, more than a decade after his shock diagnosis with motor neurone disease.

Daniher’s death at the age of 65 was confirmed on Monday by his extended family.

“We’re heartbroken to share that our much-loved husband, dad and poppy, Neale Daniher, passed away at home, surrounded by his family,” they said.

Daniher’s condition had severely deteriorated in recent weeks after a fight against the incurable MND that lasted years longer than anyone had expected. When he was diagnosed in 2013, he was given a life expectancy of about two years.

In the years since, the AFL legend united the nation in the fight against the debilitating condition, spearheading a campaign that has raised millions of dollars in research for a long-awaited cure.

The Big Freeze at the annual King’s Birthday match between Collingwood and Melbourne has become an important fundraiser for MND research.

Daniher was one of four brothers from country NSW — the others being Terry, Anthony and Chris — who all played AFL at the highest level at Essendon. In 1990, they made history when they became the first quartet of siblings to play in the same game for the same AFL/VFL club.

Daniher switched to coaching in 1998, taking charge of Melbourne until halfway through the 2007 season for a total of 211 games. He took them to the 2000 grand final, which the Demons lost to Daniher’s old team, Essendon.

He was named Victorian of the Year in 2019 and Australian of the Year in 2025. At the time of the national honour, Daniher said it was hard to believe that a “boy from outback Australia from a small town” could be given such an award.

“It’s obviously a great honour, which allows a terrific platform to promote and thank everyone across Australia that has supported our cause, because without them, I would never have been nominated,” he said.

Federal MPs, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, pay respects to Neale Daniher. Photo: Mike Bowers

On Monday, his family paid tribute to him.

“From day one, Neale was a fighter. His determination was unmatched — choosing every day to find opportunity where others might see only challenge, and taking the fight to the Beast (MND) with everything he had,” they said.

“Even in the toughest times, he kept pushing forward, determined to land as many blows as he could against his toughest opponent, all with a cheeky grin and a sharp sense of humour that never left him.”

Daniher is survived by his wife, Jan, and their four children and multiple grandchildren.