Victorian premier Jacinta Allan has paid tribute to Neale Daniher at his state funeral, describing him as a man who understood people as deeply as he understood football.
Speaking as the first speaker at the service, Allan recalled growing up as a lifelong Essendon supporter and following the “mighty Daniher brothers, all four of them in red and black”.
She said Daniher first became known to many Victorians as one of the famous Daniher brothers from country New South Wales before building a distinguished career in the VFL and AFL.
“That was how Victoria first came to know Neale – one of the Daniher boys, a country New South Wales footballer who made his mark in the VFL and the AFL, and later Melbourne’s coach,” Allan said.
She noted that Daniher coached Melbourne in 223 games, including the club’s appearance in the 2000 grand final against Essendon.
‘The Reverend’
Allan said Daniher’s coaching nickname, “The Reverend”, reflected his character and leadership.
“A deep thinker, a fierce competitor, a man who understood football, but more than that, he understood people,” she said.
“When Neale spoke, people felt it. He brought them in, not around anger or grievance, but around purpose, around hope, around the belief that if enough people cared, something could change.”
“He really was the Reverend, and all of us were part of his flock.”
Words That Stayed With The Premier
Allan revealed that a letter Daniher sent her in late 2025 remains on her desk.
In the letter, he wrote: “You can’t always choose what happens, but you can always choose how you respond. Waiting for certainty keeps you stuck, and courage begins the moment you decide.”
The premier said those words continued to guide her.
“I think about them on hard days, and they say so much about how Neale lived his life,” Allan said.
“He did not choose MND but he did choose how he would meet it – with courage, with purpose, with love, by turning his own suffering into something that could help others.”