Newly-crowned AFL senior coach of the 12 months Melbourne’s Simon Goodwin has praised former Demons mentor and beloved soccer determine Neale Daniher for his position in his improvement.
Key factors:
- Simon Goodwin has gained the AFL senior coach of the 12 months award after steering Melbourne to a spot on this 12 months’s grand remaining
- His Demons aspect is the primary from the membership to achieve the decider since Neale Daniher’s staff in 2000
- Daniher, who coached Melbourne for 10 seasons to 2007, was recognized with motor neurone illness in 2013
Goodwin advised Fox Footy on Tuesday night time that he had obtained a textual content from Daniher early morning Perth-time telling him he had gained the award, and that it was a tremendous message to obtain from “somebody so particular to our footy membership”.
The honour got here in Goodwin’s fifth season as a senior coach, the place the 44-year-old led a turnaround from ninth on the ladder within the shortened 2020 season to the minor premiership in 2021. It led to a spot within the grand remaining for Melbourne for the primary time since Daniher’s Demons made it in 2000.
The previous two-time Crows premiership participant stated his hyperlink with Daniher went deeper than the traditional help from a former membership nice.
“5 years in the past I was doing my degree 4 (teaching certificates) with the AFL, and Neale Daniher was my mentor on the time,” he stated.
“We might catch up as soon as per week on the Kooyong Tennis Membership and discuss all issues footy.
Daniher — considered one of 4 brothers to play VFL/AFL — had 82 video games for Essendon over 12 seasons in a profession restricted by accidents.
He moved into teaching and after stints as an assistant at Essendon and Fremantle he took over in 1998 as coach of Melbourne from Greg Hutchison.
Daniher was in command of the Demons for 10 seasons, taking them to the grand remaining in his third season, the place Melbourne misplaced to Essendon by 60 factors.
In his later years the Demons struggled, culminating in 2007 the place Melbourne misplaced 9 video games on the trot to begin the season — Daniher coached his final sport for the membership in spherical 13 that 12 months.
In latter years, Daniher has grow to be extensively recognized and revered for his fundraising efforts to struggle Motor Neurone Illness (MND) after he was recognized with the degenerative situation in 2013.
Together with former participant and coach Ron Barassi, Daniher is among the most well-known footballers linked with the Demons.
Melbourne posted an image of him in Demons gear at dwelling forward of the membership’s victorious preliminary remaining in opposition to Geelong.
His recognition has led to a petition on change.org to get the WA authorities to calm down the COVID restrictions to permit Daniher to enter the state at quick discover to attend Saturday’s grand remaining at Perth Stadium.
As of Wednesday morning, the petition has attracted greater than 70,000 signatures.