Friends honouring the life of Neale Daniher, who died on Monday at the age of 65, have described him as a real-life superhero who united the nation in the fight against motor neurone disease (MND).

The football icon and former Australian of the Year was also the co-founder of charity FightMND, after being diagnosed with the disease in 2013.

AFL commentator and Big Freeze host Hamish McLaughlin paid tribute to Daniher, saying he had never met anyone quite like him.

“I’d never met a real-life superhero before, but Neale was that to me,” McLaughlin said.

“He was just an incredible human that when he lost his voice, I guess he’d never listened more than the last few years.”

McLaughlin recalled words from Patrick Dangerfield that resonated deeply: “He’d lost his voice and never spoken louder to all of us.”

Daniher became a powerful advocate for MND research and support, showing Australians how to face adversity with grace and determination. Rather than retreating from public life, he chose to inspire others through his journey.

“He’s shown us all how we could live when we get dealt really bad cards,” McLaughlin said. “How you choose your life and your attitude is absolutely yours.”

‘Don’t let later become never’

The impact of Daniher’s message reached across generations. McLaughlin shared that his 10-year-old son Lex had learned a profound lesson from Daniher’s Australian of the Year speech: “Don’t let later become never.”

“He showed that you could live a life of purpose rather than just live a life,” McLaughlin said.

Before his diagnosis, Daniher was known as a Melbourne Football Club player and later coached the team to a premiership before resigning in 2007 to become an assistant coach.

But it was his 11-year battle with MND that truly defined his legacy. McLaughlin noted he never once heard Daniher complain or express self-pity.

“I can’t think of anyone in Australia in his lifetime that has united everyone like Neale has been able to unite everyone,” 7NEWS producer Josh Kay said, having spent considerable time with Daniher.

Even as the disease progressed and Daniher lost the ability to move and speak, he continued to communicate using an eye-gaze machine and AI technology, touching lives until the end.

During last year’s Big Freeze event, Daniher, unable to move or speak, used the machine to convey a message to “go out there, enjoy the moment, have fun and do it in a courageous way”.

“That’s exactly the way he lived his life,” McLaughlin said.

Daniher authored two books, bestselling memoir When All Is Said And Done, published in 2019, and motivational book The Power of Choice, published in 2025.

“I think the world is less today,” McLaughlin said.

“Melbourne’s just walking around smiling because we got to share time with him. But sad that he’s no longer here.”

Big Freeze to go ahead

Mike Schneider, Managing Director of Bunnings Group and Chair of Fight MND, says the loss of his friend has left him and countless Australians broken-hearted.

“Like everybody else, broken-hearted that we’ve lost a great friend, and the Daniher family has lost an incredible leader within their family,” Schneider said.

“But our hearts break for everyone who lives with MND all around Australia. What Neale’s been able to do over the last 13 years is embody the courage that all of those people have.”

Daniher leaves behind his wife Jan, his children and many grandchildren, with Schneider saying Daniher’s family remains committed to the MND cause.

“They are such a strong family. Their commitment to this cause is just as strong as Neale’s. We know they’ll be out there carrying the fight on as we go forward,” he said.

The forthcoming Big Freeze 12 event at the MCG in two weeks will now serve as an enormous celebration of Daniher’s life, Schneider said, and his contribution to the fight against MND.

“This year, Big Freeze 12 is going to be an enormous celebration of Neale and his life and celebration of the contribution that he’s made,” Schneider said.

Two Australians are diagnosed with MND every day, with two people also losing their lives to the disease daily.

“We need to keep the fight going. We need to keep raising the money to fight this through research and researchers,” Schneider said.