DANIHER, Terry

Terry "TD" Daniher was a great Essendon captain who was skilful, versatile and led by example. He was extremely mobile, took a good mark and could hold down any position.

Daniher came from South Melbourne where he played 19 games in 1976 and 1977. He was cleared to Essendon (with his brother Neale as part of the deal) in what ranks as one the worst trading decisions ever made by a club, in this case, South Melbourne. Of course, it was one of the best deals Essendon ever did as both brothers became champions who gave Essendon years of service.

His transfer to Essendon was one of the League's most complex. It involved the transfer of South Melbourne's Norm Goss to Hawthorn, Hawthorn's Peter Bennett and Bernie Jones to Essendon, Essendon's Neville Fields to South Melbourne, Terry and the as-yet unseen Neale Daniher to Essendon. This great deal for Essendon was capped off when Fields returned to Essendon in 1981, although he only played another five games.

When Daniher first joined Essendon he distinguished himself as a full-forward with great leading, strong marking and long accurate kicking. By 1982 he had become the versatile adaptable player who could perform equally well in attack or defence.

In 1983 he became captain of Essendon and led Essendon from the half-forward flank to premierships in both 1984 and 1985. He also skippered Essendon from full-forward to the 1981 and 1984 night premiership victories.

Daniher won Essendon's Best and Fairest award in 1982, was runner-up in 1987 and third in the award in 1983 and 1984.

He was Essendon's top goalkicker in 1979 with 57 goals and in 1983 with 64 goals. He was also second top in 1978 and 1984 and third top in 1987.

Daniher was equal top League goalkicker in 1979 until he broke his jaw and missed seven games. He kicked eight goals in a game in 1979 and seven goals three times in the same year and again in 1980 and 1982.

He also kicked four goals in the Elimination Final in both 1982 and 1983 which is the equal top at Essendon for that final.

He was selected in the State side in 1979 and then in every year from 1983 to 1987. He captained the State team in 1985, 1986 and 1987. He was also named in the All-Australian team in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988 and 1989 and was captain in 1984.

Daniher was named in the Inside Football team of the year in 1979, 1983 and 1984. He was also vice-captain of The Sun all star team in 1984 and captain of the team in 1985.

He won the Best First Year Player award in 1978, the Best Clubman award in 1982 and the Most Determined award in 1990.

After retiring as a senior player he played in the Reserves as captain and a mentor to younger players and led them to the 1992 premiership.

In the years after his retirement, Daniher was appointed head coach of the Wagga Tigers. During his stint, the Tigers had premiership success and were a highly competitive team.

He became an EFC Life Member in 1987, and was awarded AFL Life Membership in 1991. He was also inducted as an inaugural Legend in the EFC Hall of Fame in 1996 and a member of the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1998. He is depicted as "Passion" in the Spirit to Win mural at Windy Hill.

In 1999, he returned to Essendon and was appointed assistant coach. He coached the EFC Reserves side to a premiership in 1999.

At the end of 2002 after four years on the Essendon coaching panel, assisting with the Seniors and coaching the VFL side Daniher accepted an assistant coaching role with Collingwood Football Club. He later had similar roles at St Kilda and Carlton.

History was made when he played with his brothers Neale, Anthony and Chris at Moorabin in 1990, the first time four brothers had played in the same side in the VFL/AFL history. They also played together on 22 May 1990 in a State of Origin match for New South Wales versus Victoria.

Terry Daniher was named at number 11 in the Champions of Essendon (2002).