First Big Freeze held at the MCG since the death of AFL legend and MND campaigner Neale Daniher

The MCG has hosted the first Big Freeze event since the death of AFL legend and motor neurone disease (MND) campaigner, Neale Daniher.

It was a sea of ice blue around the ground as tens of thousands of beanie-clad footy fans cheered on a host of celebrities as they hurtled down a slide into a chilly pool for the 12th Big Freeze at the ‘G.

The annual event is the signature fundraiser for the FightMND charity set up by Daniher after his diagnosis 13 years ago.

Last year’s Big Freeze slide and beanie fundraiser raised almost $23 million.

Today’s event was held just two weeks after Daniher died from the disease.

A state funeral will be held in Melbourne on Wednesday.

The first to take the plunge was radio and television identity-turned author Andy Lee, dressed as a character from one of his children’s books.

“Absolute regrets for the outfit, I’m still a bit full underneath,” he said to waiting TV cameras as he tried to empty trapped icy water from his costume.

He said he was honoured to be asked to take part.

“I was asked about six or seven weeks ago. I love Neale … obviously the events over the past couple of weeks have made it even more special.

“He’s a very, very amazing human being.”

Television presenter Sam Mac was doggedly determined to make a splash at this year’s event.

He said he dressed as children’s television character Bluey in an effort to impress his daughters, but his efforts meant he spent far longer in the freezing pool than his fellow sliders, needing help from bystanders to exit the icy waters.

“I was definitely submerged for a few seconds there, there were a lot of kids that were nervous about what happened to Bluey,” Mac laughed.

He said Daniher’s fight had been inspiring for his uncle who had MND and was watching on at the MCG.

“If you get a diagnosis like that, you can totally understand someone wanting to stay away in their room and deal with it in privacy, and you respect that, but the way that [Daniher] put it outward and the way that his message is just magnified today is really, really special,” he said.

Daniher was the first coach for former Melbourne Demons player Nathan Jones.

Jones said he hoped the antics and colourful costumes of his fellow sliders would bring some much-needed joy after a tough fortnight.

“I reckon the best thing everyone can do — the community, the AFL world, everyone that believes in this cause — is double down on the message that Neale has fought so hard for over the last 12 or 13 years,” he said.

Australia’s Governor-General Sam Mostyn paid tribute to Daniher through her costume — donning an Essendon jumper and a Demons cap as she took the plunge.

She revealed she was personally asked to take part by Daniher himself.

“I said there was nothing I wouldn’t do for him,” he said.

“Neale Daniher shows the very best of us as Australians, so I wanted to show and play on just like Neale expects of all of us.”

She said she was also thinking about the family of former Australian of the Year, Richard Scolyer, who died from brain cancer on Sunday night.

Diamonds and Vixens netballer Jo Weston came as Kylie Minogue, while Olympic champion Cooper Woods kept with the water theme, dressing as surfing great Mick Fanning.

“It’s actually unbelievable,” Woods said of the crowd turnout and the abundance of blue beanies all over Melbourne, not just the MCG.

Creswick GP Josh Saunders was chosen as this year’s Community Slider in recognition of his extended family’s efforts in raising more than $100,000 for FightMND, including ice bucket challenges, a Big Freeze family slide and lemonade stands.

He said it was a privilege to be invited to take part.

“MND runs in the family,” Dr Saunders said.

“This is something that I will throw everything at, this cause.

After the poignant spectacle, former rugby league player Jai Arrow tossed the coin for the AFL clash between Collingwood and Melbourne.

Arrow was diagnosed with motor neurone disease last month.

Daniher’s wife Jan watched the event and said it was “absolutely fantastic” to see so many beanies in the crowd.

“I think everyone that’s been affected by MND will take something from this and be so grateful that people are supporting the cause,” she said.

She said this year’s event had given her hope it would continue.

“Neale would want it to keep going,” she said.

“We can’t stop now we’ve gotta keep working until we can find an answer to this beast … of a disease, so we’ll keep fighting.

Community rallies around Daniher family

Before the event, Neale Daniher’s family led a large crowd on a walk to the MCG from Federation Square.

Before setting off, daughter Bec — who told the crowd she was due to have baby next week — said the family was touched by the turnout and that it had rallied their spirits.

“It’s just incredible to look around and see so much support,” she said.

“I don’t think we understood the impact Dad had on so many different people.”

She said the family did not understand the fight that was ahead of them when her father was first diagnosed.

“But we knew that we couldn’t stand still and we just had to do something,” she said.

“I think I heard Dad mention wanting to do a chook raffle or two just to try and make a difference, so it truly blows us away … that the Melbourne footy community and the Australian community more broadly continues to rally behind us.”

Lauren Daniher described the support that her family and the charity had received as humbling.

“It means more than I can say to know that all of these people around Australia have your back,” she said.

One Melbourne fan who took part in the preceding walk from Federation Square to the MCG said he had been to every Big Freeze event since Neale Daniher started his campaign.

“I’m so proud to walk along to support him,” he said.

“I also have a close friend that’s suffering MND, so it’s huge for us. It’s really emotional and a great day.”

A Collingwood fan attending the Big Freeze for the first time said she was also feeling emotional.

“It’s always been on my bucket list and we actually live out in the country close to where Neale was born, so it’s even more special,” she said.

“I feel so lucky to be here.”

Late this afternoon, the FightMND charity released a statement saying it had received a record of more than 100,000 “digital beanie” donations through its website.

“For more than a decade, Neale’s advocacy has helped transform the fight against MND, driving investment into groundbreaking research and programs that support those affected by the disease,” the statement said.

“What began as a bold idea has grown into a national movement.”

Daniher played 82 games for Essendon over 11 years of an injury-plagued AFL/VFL career from 1979 to 1990.

He also coached Melbourne Football Club for more than 220 games from 1998 to 2007.

He was diagnosed with MND in 2013 and dedicated his later years to raising awareness of the disease and fundraising for research.

Daniher was named Victorian of the Year in 2019 and Australian of the Year in 2025.