Latest news with #BigFreeze11
West Australian
12-06-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
West Coast Eagles rally around Neale Daniher in fight against MND with WA Freeze
West Coast have rallied around the Daniher family ahead of staging the WA Freeze on Sunday during their clash with Carlton at Optus Stadium. Big Freeze 11 was another roaring success during Melbourne and Collingwood's King Birthday clash at the MCG on Monday, and now the Eagles will have their turn to honour the AFL champion. Daniher was working at the club when he was diagnosed with Motor neurone disease in 2013, an incurable illness that causes weakness in the muscles, leading eventually to paralysis. West Coast co-captain Liam Duggan said Sunday would be a special day and that the players were keen to honour Daniher with a strong performance as they hunt their second triumph of the season. 'It's an exciting day; the beanies are one thing, it's obviously very visual, and it's a great cause to be around,' he told club media. 'To be a part of our Freeze game in WA, it's really special. Obviously, the game last week looked super cool from afar with the slide and the quality of game it was. 'To play in that way, that style and the way Danners (Daniher) would have played his footy and coached his footy and the way that he's fought against this beast - that's how we'll be going out to play this game on the weekend.' Channel 7 icon Rick Ardon will lead the Perth personalities to take the icy plunge on Sunday with radio host Kymba Cahill as well as comedian Peter Rowsthorn. Adelaide will also host an SA Freeze in their match with Brisbane at Adelaide Oval. Luke Daniher, Neale's son, said it was good to see the fight against MND still going strong in the place his father's battle began. 'It's amazing to think it is the 11th year, and it's always good to come back to, I guess, where it all began,' he said. '2013, that's when Dad was diagnosed and he was at West Coast. 'It's amazing to have the West Coast team rally around him and it all kicked off with a fundraiser at The Stables with all those at the West Coast Eagles. It's just grown and grown and grown.' Luke urged fans to continue to rally around the cause to help find a cure. 'It's very important to keep the best and brightest minds busy when it comes to the beast of a disease,' he said. 'It impacts everyone differently. Every day, two people are diagnosed with MND, and every day, two people lose their lives, so it's incredibly urgent we do something about it.' 'When it comes to fighting such a beast of a disease, it requires a big army, and it's amazing to have the West Coast Eagles, all the supporters, to get behind the cause and without you, we won't find a cure.'
Perth Now
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Eagles rally around Daniher family ahead of WA Freeze
West Coast have rallied around the Daniher family ahead of staging the WA Freeze on Sunday during their clash with Carlton at Optus Stadium. Big Freeze 11 was another roaring success during Melbourne and Collingwood's King Birthday clash at the MCG on Monday, and now the Eagles will have their turn to honour the AFL champion. Daniher was working at the club when he was diagnosed with Motor neurone disease in 2013, an incurable illness that causes weakness in the muscles, leading eventually to paralysis. West Coast co-captain Liam Duggan said Sunday would be a special day and that the players were keen to honour Daniher with a strong performance as they hunt their second triumph of the season. 'It's an exciting day; the beanies are one thing, it's obviously very visual, and it's a great cause to be around,' he told club media. 'To be a part of our Freeze game in WA, it's really special. Obviously, the game last week looked super cool from afar with the slide and the quality of game it was. 'To play in that way, that style and the way Danners (Daniher) would have played his footy and coached his footy and the way that he's fought against this beast - that's how we'll be going out to play this game on the weekend.' Eagles gathering ahead of the WA Freeze with Neale Daniher's son Luke. Credit: West Coast Eagles / Supplied Channel 7 icon Rick Ardon will lead the Perth personalities to take the icy plunge on Sunday with radio host Kymba Cahill as well as comedian Peter Rowsthorn. Adelaide will also host an SA Freeze in their match with Brisbane at Adelaide Oval. Luke Daniher, Neale's son, said it was good to see the fight against MND still going strong in the place his father's battle began. 'It's amazing to think it is the 11th year, and it's always good to come back to, I guess, where it all began,' he said. The AFLW Eagles sport the Big Freeze beanies. Credit: West Coast Eagles / Supplied '2013, that's when Dad was diagnosed and he was at West Coast. 'It's amazing to have the West Coast team rally around him and it all kicked off with a fundraiser at The Stables with all those at the West Coast Eagles. It's just grown and grown and grown.' Luke urged fans to continue to rally around the cause to help find a cure. 'It's very important to keep the best and brightest minds busy when it comes to the beast of a disease,' he said. Liam Ryan with Neale Daniher's son Luke. Credit: West Coast Eagles / Supplied 'It impacts everyone differently. Every day, two people are diagnosed with MND, and every day, two people lose their lives, so it's incredibly urgent we do something about it.' 'When it comes to fighting such a beast of a disease, it requires a big army, and it's amazing to have the West Coast Eagles, all the supporters, to get behind the cause and without you, we won't find a cure.'
7NEWS
09-06-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Neale Daniher honoured with guard of honour from both teams before King's Birthday clash
Neale Daniher has been honoured by Collingwood, Melbourne and the wider AFL community with an 'incredibly touching' guard of honour before the traditional King's Birthday clash on Monday. The pre-match begun, as always, with the Big Freeze 11 sliders, where Sunrise star Matt Shirvington and Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus led a group of 10 Aussie icons, dressed in the theme of Aussie icons. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Guard of honour formed for Neale Daniher. Then, when the two teams entered the stadium for their last-minute pre-match run-throughs, every Melbourne player ran over to Daniher on the sidelines to each give him their own touch. Minutes later, players from both sides, as well as coaches and umpires, formed a guard of honour for the Australian of the Year, just ahead of the first bounce of the game. Daniher was wheeled through the guard of honour by his son Luke in what was an emotional scene. A sea of the iconic blue beanies formed the backdrop to the guard of honour, which was conducted on the boundary line near the crowd. It was a special touch added to what has already become a landmark event on the Australian sporting calendar. 'This is a magic moment,' Dale Thomas said. Bruce McAvaney added: 'What a football family the Danihers are, and what an Australian family they've become. 'And for Neale, who could have hidden away from this and we wouldn't have seen them for all these years, he has delivered in spades in terms of inspiration.' Kate McCarthy was at ground level when it happened: 'Really emotional scenes just then as both teams gave the guard of honour to Neale Daniher and incredibly touching down here.' Melbourne players get around Neale Daniher before Pies clash
News.com.au
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Every Big Freeze 11 slider takes the plunge
From Ariarne Titmus to Mark Taylor, watch every slider from Big Freeze 11 take the plunge to raise funds and awareness for FightMND.
West Australian
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Big Freeze 11: High-profile athletes and personalities take plunge to fight Motor Neurone Disease
Big Freeze 11 has gone off without a hitch as some of Australia's highest-profile athletes and personalities took the plunge in honour of AFL champion Neale Daniher and fighting Motor Neurone Disease. The rain finally held off in Melbourne ahead of the King's Birthday clash between Melbourne and Collingwood as the plungers dressed as Aussie icons to get the day off to an emotional start. Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus was the first to test the water, rocking an Olivia Newton-John in Grease ensemble. Cadel Evans was almost unrecognisable as he did his best to emulate Melbourne big man Max Gawn, the beard and bald cap staying on as he held the board all the way into the water. Channel 7 Sunrise host and former Olympic runner Matt Shirvington did his best to represent Chris Hemsworth in his iconic Marvel role of Thor but wasn't provided the suit with in-built muscles. Peter Daicos lifted a roar from the crowd, the Collingwood legend honouring Heath Ledger by going down the slide as the Joker. Actor Matt Nable braved the cold in shorts to bring AC/DC to life as guitarist Angus Young, his tie never losing its shape, while Australian Diamonds captain Liz Watson channelled Margo Robbie in her Barbie pink and felt the shock of the ice as she plunged into the water. Australian cricket captain Alyssa Healy has performed alongside Katy Perry at the MCG but had the fans in stitches, dressed as Magda Szubanski in a neck brace playing netball in Kath and Kim. She even got a Shane Warne reference in after his iconic cameo on the show, messing up her lipstick as if they had been kissing behind the scenes. Demons favourite Aaron Davey represented icon, Michael Long, before V8 Supercars legend Craig Lowndes donned black leather as Mel Gibson in Mad Max. Australian opening batter and commentator Mark Taylor rounded out the slide, spearheaded by Daniher more than a decade ago, tributing his great mate Warne batting at No.10. He even wore full spikes to go with the white floppy and wristband.
