Ariarne Titmus Stars at AFL Big Freeze as MCG Honors MND Warrior Neale Daniher

2025 AFL Big Freeze: A Frosty Spectacle for a Cause
The 2025 AFL Big Freeze lit up a packed Melbourne Cricket Ground with heartwarming moments, icy plunges, and a celebration of Neale Daniher’s fight against motor neurone disease (MND). Now in its tenth year, the annual King’s Birthday fundraiser for FightMND smashed records, raising over $115 million since its inception, with this year’s event marking the largest turnout yet.

Neale Daniher: A Legend’s Legacy
Daniher, a former Essendon captain and Melbourne Demons coach, transformed his MND diagnosis in 2013 into a nationwide movement. Co-founding FightMND in 2014, he turned the Big Freeze into Australia’s most iconic charity sports event. Despite his declining health, Daniher remains a symbol of resilience, inspiring crowds with his determination to find a cure. This year, he joined his family for an emotional lap of honor at the MCG, met with thunderous applause from 90,000 fans donning blue FightMND beanies.

[IMAGE: Bec Daniher, Ben Daniher, and Neale Daniher do a lap of honour with the Daniher kids in front of a packed house at the ‘G]

Stars Brave the Ice for MND
The pre-game slide spectacle featured celebrities and athletes plunging into icy water in themed costumes. Olympic swimmer Ariarne Titmus kicked off the action as Olivia Newton-John’s Grease character, Sandy, complete with a glittery pink outfit. “I’m freezing, but this is nothing compared to what MND families endure,” she said after her shivering exit.

Cycling legend Cadel Evans stole laughs dressed as Melbourne Demons captain Max Gawn—right down to the towering stature (thanks to platform shoes) and fake beard. Gawn greeted him at the slide’s base, quipping, “You’ve got the legs, but I’ve got the height!”

Collingwood icon Peter Daicos embraced chaos as the Joker, joking to host Tim Watson, “This is my usual wardrobe!” Meanwhile, netball star Liz Watson channeled Barbie in a neon pink ensemble, and sprinter Matt Shirvington roared like Thor, his cape nearly strangling him mid-slide.

[IMAGE: Peter Daicos had plenty of laughs dressed as Batman villain The Joker, saying it was just the clothes he normally wore]

Tributes and Tears
Emotional moments punctuated the fun. Australian cricket captain Alyssa Healy honored comedian Magda Szubanski—recently diagnosed with cancer—by sliding as Kath & Kim’s Sharon Strzelecki. Former cricketer Mark Taylor paid homage to Shane Warne, dressed in the late spin king’s signature hat and holding a cricket ball. “Warnie should’ve batted at No. 10,” Taylor quipped, sparking cheers.

Aaron Davey, a Melbourne Demons fan favorite, wore Essendon colors to honor Michael Long, a symbol of Indigenous resilience. V8 legend Craig Lowndes revved up the crowd as Mad Max’s Fury Road warrior before his plunge.

[IMAGE: Mark Taylor paid tribute to his old mate and fellow Test cricket champion Shane Warne]

The Heart of the Fight
While costumes and laughter dominated, Daniher’s story remained central. A renowned Essendon player and Demons coach, he led Melbourne to the 2000 AFL Grand Final. His 2013 MND diagnosis ignited a crusade that’s since funded groundbreaking research, including Australia’s first MND drug trial.

Though his speech is now silenced by the disease, Daniher’s presence electrified the MCG. “He’s taught us all to fight with dignity,” said FightMND CEO Rebecca Langdon.

[IMAGE: The full house sign went up at the MCG, with fans proudly wearing their FightMND Big Freeze beanies]

A Legacy of Hope
As Collingwood edged Melbourne in a thrilling match, the day’s real victory was its spotlight on MND. Daniher’s decade-long campaign has turned a once-overlooked disease into a national priority. With millions raised and awareness at an all-time high, the Big Freeze continues proving that even in the face of ice—or adversity—Australians rally together.

“We’re closer than ever to a cure,” Daniher’s daughter Bec declared. For the MCG crowd and viewers nationwide, that hope was worth celebrating—one chilly slide at a time.

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