Neale Daniher's son Luke has revealed how his young grandsons are finding comfort in the flood of tributes to their beloved "Pops", as the family commits to continuing his fight against motor neurone disease (MND).
Speaking on Sunrise ahead of Big Freeze 12 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Monday, Luke Daniher said his two sons, aged four and seven, have been drawn to the many tributes, television appearances and stories celebrating their grandfather in the weeks since his death.
"They always light up when they see Pops, it brings back really good memories," Luke said. "To see Pops in action back in football days, in coaching days and in his fight with the beast days... they love seeing Pops."
The touching moments have helped the family through what Luke described as an incredibly difficult period.
"It's been a very tough few weeks," he said.
But even amid their grief, the Daniher family is determined to honour Neale's legacy by carrying on the work he dedicated himself to after being diagnosed with MND in 2013.
"As Dad always said, you know, we've got to play on," Luke said.
"And it's really important that we rid this world of this hideous disease."
Luke said the phrase "play on" had become more than a football saying for the family, representing a responsibility to continue the fight his father began.
"It's a football saying: when it's your turn to go, you go. And Dad did that. He jumped in, he dived in, he did something. And now it's our turn. He's passed the baton on to us and we want to continue that fight on," he said.
The family was moved by a surprise tribute during Saturday night's AFL clash between Carlton and Essendon at the MCG, where a special light show honoured Neale's memory.
"We weren't aware that that was going to take place. So all the lights and the stand, it was phenomenal what they all put on," Luke said.
"Being out there was very touching. It's amazing the support that we've had from the AFL community."
Big Freeze 12 is expected to attract record crowds to the MCG on Monday, with thousands of Australians set to don the iconic blue beanies and raise money for FightMND.
Founded by Neale and his supporters in 2014, FightMND has raised more than $140 million for research, care and support services, helping transform awareness of a disease that remains incurable.
