‘Untouchable’: Why Neale Daniher’s legacy at Essendon will live another 150 years

But that season and especially those final two goals in the final two minutes at the end of a famous quarter etched his name in Essendon folklore before he had even turned 21.

“He was the best, Daniher,” Barry Besanko said. “The way he trained and the way he played …”

Besanko played three games in 1980 alongside Neale and Terry. He is happy to engage with Max Crow, who kicked four goals against the Blues, in a friendly debate about his appraisal as their mutual regard for all the Daniher clan is clear.

“Terry was the best, Neale had the potential to be the best,” Crow said.

In that memorable 1981 match, future AFL Commission chairman and Blues premiership captain Mike Fitzpatrick was pinged for time-wasting (a few Essendon old-timers joke that he hated the Bombers from that point on).

Umpire Ian Robinson made the rare call to take the kick off the Blues ruckman just 16 seconds after he had marked in defence late in the game.

“Carlton had a false sense of security,” Crow recalled.

The four Daniher brothers at Essendon training in 1990 (from left): Terry, Neale, Chris and Anthony.Credit:The Age

They did not count on Daniher.

In the ensuing panic, the Carlton theme song was played before the siren sounded as the Blues lost their minds on and off the field.

Daniher was cool, taking two marks in the forward line late to slot two set shots through the middle having made the most of a free kick to goal earlier in the quarter.

Former Bomber Ken Fletcher was coaching Tatura that Saturday. He heard about Carlton’s lead and didn’t think about it again. He nearly died of fright when he heard the score.

Frank Dunell, an Essendon premiership player, had arrived in 1979 with Daniher, Barry Day and recruit Peter ‘Crackers’ Keenan, so he watched his progress as soon as they arrived at Windy Hill.

“He had such a good step. He had played rugby too,” Dunell said.

That step became harder, and his final game occurred in 1990 when he played against St Kilda alongside his three brothers.

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On Friday night, nearly 32 years after that day, Daniher leant and laughed when the spotlight fell on the famous Daniher quartet at the MCG.

His inspirational and defiant battle with motor neurone disease (MND) has made his name central to the Queen’s Birthday clash between Melbourne and Collingwood, which is now synonymous with the efforts to fight MND through the Big Freeze fundraiser.

Most Australians under a certain age know him for his courage in the face of what he calls the beast and his time coaching Melbourne from 1998-2007 where he became known as ‘The Reverend’ as he promoted the club.

But as Essendon celebrated their 150th the reverence of those who played alongside him in the red and black was clear.

Neale Daniher, one of football’s shooting stars.