The inaugural chairman of Neale Daniher's FightMND charity has opened up about his final conversation with the AFL icon, describing how he knew it would be the last time he would ever speak to his dear friend. Bill Guest, who also served as vice-president of the Melbourne Demons during Daniher's tenure as coach, said the 65-year-old remained in good spirits despite being near the end of his battle with motor neurone disease.
"I saw him on Thursday afternoon, which was very much a goodbye, sadly," Guest told Channel Seven. "I walked into where Neale sits ... in their living room and he had wires up everywhere and it was clearly the last time I was going to see him. Still had his humour, we still cracked some jokes."
Guest, who was accompanied by FightMND co-founder Pat Cunningham, added: "I knew when we left we'd never see Neale again. It was very sad." He acknowledged that even though Daniher's passing was expected, the emotional impact remained profound. "Even today when [Daniher's wife] Jenny rang this morning you still shed a tear even though you know it's going to happen, and we'd known what was going to happen for a long time. It doesn't change who he was and how you feel about it."
Guest remembered Daniher as "selfless, incredibly honest, unbelievably stubborn ... he was very stoic ... just incredible ability, and strength and perseverance." He also recalled Daniher's remarkable coaching achievements, noting that he did an amazing job with a "s**t team" during his time at the Demons.
Reflecting on the growth of FightMND, Guest said the charity initially aimed to raise $100,000 but now expects the upcoming Big Freeze event to raise approximately $20 million. Another close friend, Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan, also paid tribute to Daniher. Fagan, who got his start at the AFL level through Daniher, described the footy legend as "like my big brother."
"I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing if it wasn't for him," Fagan told Nine Newspapers. He recalled a recent encounter with Daniher at the MCG about five or six weeks ago, where they shared a light-hearted moment about their teams' upcoming match. "I look across and there was Neale in his wheelchair, so I was able to go along and have a little chat to him. I'm ever so grateful for that because I didn't realise that would be the last opportunity."
Daniher will be honoured with a state funeral after his family accepted the offer from Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan. "We're with [the Daniher family] right now and we'll continue to be with [the family] as we keep up Neale's fight against 'the beast' and find a cure for MND," Allan said.
