Neil Danaher's legacy lives on through Fight MND

Neil Danaher, legendary AFL player and coach, has passed away at age 65 after a 13-year battle with motor neurone disease. The former Essendon champion and Melbourne Demons coach launched the Big Freeze campaign in 2014, raising over $100 million for MND research. Named Australian of the Year in 2025, Danaher transformed his diagnosis into a national movement that brought widespread awareness to the disease and inspired millions of Australians.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.