Neale Daniher is a high-profile Australian rules footballer and coach. He is best known for his time as a player with the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL) and his successful coaching career with the Melbourne Football Club.
In addition to his roles at these clubs, he has held coaching positions at Essendon, Fremantle and West Coast, demonstrating his expertise and leadership in the sport.
File
- Full Name: Neale Francis Daniher
- Stage Name: Neale Daniher
- Date of birth: February 15, 1961
- Age: 63 years old
- Place of birth: West Wyalong, Australia
- Nationality: Australian
- Occupation: Football player and coach
- Height: 1.88m
- Parents: Edna Daniher and James Daniher
- Siblings: Terry Daniher, Anthony Daniher, Chris Daniher, Nerolee Daniher, Colleen Daniher, Dorothy Daniher, Estelle Daniher, Julie Daniher, Fiona Daniher and Angela Daniher
- Spouse: Jan Daniher
- Children: Lauren, Luke, Bec and Ben
- Relationship: Married
- Net Worth: $10 million to $20 million
Early life and education
Neale Daniher was born on 15 February 1961 in West Wyalong, Australia, to Edna and James Daniher. He grew up in a family of 11 children, including siblings Terry, Anthony, Chris, Nerolee, Colleen, Dorothy, Estelle, Julie, Fiona and Angela.
He attended St Joseph’s Catholic School in Ungarie for his primary schooling, St Patrick’s College in Goulburn and Assumption College in Kilmore for his secondary schooling. Daniher is Australian and Catholic.
Career
Neale Daniher’s Essendon career was marked by strong performances and promising potential, quickly establishing himself as one of the team’s key players and earning the captaincy in 1982. However, recurring knee injuries limited his playing time to just 82 games in 12 seasons. Despite these setbacks, his impact and talent on the field were still praised by Essendon fans.
Despite being plagued by injuries, Neale Daniher proved to be a standout player, winning Essendon’s best and fairest player award in 1981. In a historic moment, he and his brothers Terry, Anthony and Chris played together for Essendon in 1990, making them the first quartet of brothers to play for the same team in a VFL/AFL match. They also represented New South Wales in a State of Origin match that same year.
Daniher retired from AFL in 1990 but returned to play one more season for Werribee in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) in 1991. This decision showed his passion and dedication to the sport.
Awards and nominations
Playing career
- Essendon Best and Fairest: 1981
- Essendon Captain: 1982
- VFL Player of the Year: 1978 (VFL is the historical name of the league that later became the AFL)
Training and Leadership
- Melbourne Football Club Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2018
- Neale Daniher Lifetime Achievement Award: Presented by the AFL Coaches Association
Community and Advocacy
- Member of the Order of Australia (AM): 2016 (awarded for raising awareness of Motor Neurone Disease)
- Officer of the Order of Australia (AO): 2021 (awarded for continuing service to Motor Neurone Disease)
- Victorian of the Year: 2019
- Outstanding Contribution to Sport Victoria Award: 2022
Social media
Instagram Name: @nealedaniher
Personal life
Neale and Jan Daniher have built a strong and loving family together. They have four children: Lauren, Luke, Bec and Ben, who have all grown up to be successful and caring individuals.
The couple are also proud grandparents to six children who bring joy and happiness to their lives. Through their marriage and family, Neale and Jan have demonstrated the importance of love, support and commitment.
Net worth
Neale Daniher has an estimated net worth of $10 million to $20 million, earned primarily through his professional career in the sports industry. His dedication and leadership on and off the field have made him an extremely valuable and respected figure in the Australian football community.
