With a ride through the grounds where Neale Daniher made an indelible impact on and off the field, thousands of mourners formed a blue guard as a final farewell to the AFL legend and motor neurone disease crusader.
Daniher, who became the symbol of the fight against MND, died on May 25 aged 65 after a 13-year battle with what he called The Beast.
He was farewelled in an emotional state funeral on Wednesday, attended by 5435 people at the same hallowed ground of the MCG where he played for Essendon and coached Melbourne.
Crowds with their distinctive blue beanies formed a guard of honour along Daniher's Way and clapped as his hearse was driven through a final time after his favourite song, The Killer's Mr Brightside, played in the background.
Reflecting on her husband's life, Jan Daniher said he chose to ride the rollercoaster of life rather than the merry-go-round, a reference to his favourite monologue in the movie The Parenthood.
"The merry-go-round goes round and round, safe, predictable, comfortable," she said.
"The rollercoaster, a metaphor for life, unpredictable, full of highs and lows, sudden turns, and unexpected challenges."
When The Beast was delivering its final blows, daughter Loz said all her father wanted to do was to get up.
"Even when his body was failing, his mind was still fighting on right to the very end," she said.
Daniher was remembered for his brutal honesty, evidenced in the feedback he gave his son Ben in his first game back in local football after the COVID-19 lockdowns.
Having gained weight, Ben told his father it didn't matter as he was an inside-midfielder and being bigger worked fine for Carlton's Patrick Cripps.
"I could see him grinning as he typed out his response. When the machine finally spat it out, he said, 'well, you're not Crippa and Crippa's not fat'," he said.
David Neitz and Paul Hopgood, who played for Daniher during his near decade-long tenure as Melbourne's senior coach, recounted another story during the Queen's Birthday game 26 years ago where he dragged Jeff Farmer after a poor first half.
Farmer kicked nine goals in the second half and went into the post-game review the next day ready for an apology for Daniher's brutal half-time spray.
"Neale was ready and he had the highlight reel ready to go for the review. Not for the nine second-half goals he kicked, but the nine things he did wrong in the first half," Hopgood said.
But friend and Brisbane dual premiership coach Chris Fagan spoke to the softer side of the man who gave him his first job 29 years ago.
"Neale made me feel valued, he gave me confidence, he believed in me, he helped me overcome my imposter syndrome, that maybe I didn't belong as a coach at AFL level, because I didn't play at the level," he said.
One attendee, Cathy O'Brien, went to the funeral in honour of a close friend whose husband succumbed to motor neurone disease, an incurable and fatal condition.
"To be unwell and to do everything he did, with the support of his family ... it's truly amazing," Ms O'Brien told AAP.
Spike Harris, Melbourne's team manager when Daniher was head coach, said his incredible legacy would go on forever.
Daniher was diagnosed with the disease in 2013. The average life expectancy is 27 months, but he survived for 13 years.
FightMND, the charity he co-founded, has committed more than $141 million to medical research for treatments and to find a cure.
In 2025, Daniher was named Australian of the Year for his contributions in leading the fight against the disease, inspiring millions of Australians with hope.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed the invincible optimism of a hero.
"When he lost his voice, his words became more powerful," Mr Albanese said.
"When he could no longer walk, more and more Australians put on their beanies and marched at his side."
Daniher is survived by his wife, their four children and six grandchildren.
He was one of 11 children raised by Jim and Edna Daniher on a farm at Ungarie, NSW, with the family making history in 1990 when he and his brothers Terry, Anthony and Chris played in the same Essendon team.
