Essendon legend Terry Daniher excited for Ungarie return for 'Big Sherrin' family tribute

Terry and brothers Neale, Chris and Anthony will be acknowledged in dramatic fashion, with the unveiling of a giant Sherrin in the town.

“We’ll have a good day,” Terry said.

“It’s a great honour, I think, for all the boys, to have our name up there on the footy.

“And for our Dad, Jim, his brothers and all their mates. Sport is very much a part of the community there – obviously AFL footy but also rugby league, cricket, and everything else we used to play growing up.

“But we just followed in their footsteps and had a lot of fun along the way.”

The formalities will be followed by a game pitting a local All Stars side including Brownlow Medallist Paul Kelly, to be coached by Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, against the Danihers’ AFL Legends, to be coached by Neale.

“Hopefully they don’t need me,” Terry, 60, quipped, despite donning the boots for Ungarie as recently as two years ago.

“The important thing is, hopefully we get a good crowd and can put on a bit of show and entertain them.”

Former Geelong star turned media personality, Billy Brownless, is among the visiting personalities, along with Essendon’s Garry Foulds, Bryan Wood, Stephen Carey and Paul Hamilton.

The match will also raise funds for Neale Daniher’s Fight MND organisation.

Terry, who played 313 of the brothers’ combined 752 AFL games, expects Saturday will be a big day for Ungarie, but also hopes the ‘Big Sherrin’ will have a lasting benefit for the town.

He thanked Triple M for their promotion and support. Bland Shire Council said it will be fitting recognition.

“It’s enormous, but it’s a fitting event for a family that has contributed so much to Ungarie, to the Bland Shire, to AFL and to society in general,” Bland Shire Council’s Craig Sutton said.

“There’s no family I can think of that’s more deserving of something like this.

“It’s also going to be a tremendous thing for the town of Ungarie. Hopefully it will encourage people to come out, visit, stop in the town and spend some money. 

“Small, rural towns are struggling and things like this help revitalise them.”