When AFL great Neale Daniher AO (1961–2026) was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in 2013, he used his tenacity and his platform to bring visibility to the disease. Through his organisation FightMND he tirelessly advocated for research into effective treatments and a cure for MND, raising over $140 million in the process. The former Australian rules footballer and coach began his AFL career at the Essendon football club in 1979. After retiring as a player in 1990, Daniher was assistant coach for Essendon and Fremantle before becoming senior coach for the Melbourne Demons, guiding the club to the Grand Final against Essendon in 2000.
Michael Peck formed his idea for this portrait after reading Daniher’s 2019 memoir, in which he calls MND ‘The Beast’: ‘an ugly piece of gear, hairy and dark, like a huge hybrid of a blowfly and a moth’. It was important to Daniher that the portrait illustrate the reality of the disease, particularly its impact on his arms and hands. ‘It was not comfortable for Neale to sit like this,’ Peck said, ‘but he was determined to capture the right image. This alone is testament to his strength and determination.’ Daniher wears a Big Freeze beanie, in recognition of FightMND’s annual fundraising event: the Big Freeze match between Melbourne and Collingwood at the MCG. In 2025 Daniher was named Australian of the Year in honour of his work in raising funds and awareness for MND.
Commissioned with funds provided by The Calvert-Jones Foundation, The Sid and Fiona Myer Family Foundation and Dr David Thurin AM and Lisa Thurin 2021
© Michael Peck
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