Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
One of the biggest days on the AFL calendar, the Big Freeze at the MCG, was a ratings hit on Monday, reaching 1.43 million on Seven and 7Plus.
It was an emotionally-charged day as the football community came together to raise funds for FightMND, the organisation co-founded by the late Neale Daniher to find a cure for motor neurone disease.
Daniher sadly passed away last month at the age of 65 following a decade-long battle with MND. He was remembered in a touching tribute that aired pre-game as players and officials came together to honour the 2025 Australian of the Year.
Seven’s The Big Freeze At The G had a national total TV audience of 903,000, up 13 per cent on last year, while the King’s Birthday clash between Collingwood and Melbourne reached 1.98 million.
It delivered a national total TV audience of 930,000, up seven per cent on last year’s game and up 57 per cent on the 2026 season-to-date AFL average.
On 7plus Sport, the game drew 121,000 viewers, up 100 per cent on 2025.
“Big Freeze 12 was a truly remarkable tribute to the late, great Neale Daniher AO. While we miss him dearly, we know he would have absolutely loved what unfolded at the MCG (on Monday),” Seven’s head of AFL and sport innovation Gary O’Keeffe said.
“With more than 88,000 fans filling the stands and huge audiences joining us on Seven and 7plus Sport, there could have been no greater celebration of Neale’s life, legacy and the extraordinary impact he had on so many Australians,” he said.
Daniher will be farewelled in a state funeral service on Wednesday, broadcast live on Seven in Perth, Melbourne and Adelaide from 10am (WA time).
“As we come together again tomorrow to honour Neale at his State Funeral Service tomorrow, we reflect on his extraordinary contribution to MND research, advocacy and awareness in Australia,” O’Keeffe said.
“More than that, we reflect on his unique ability to unite people from all walks of life behind a common cause.”
On Thursday, Quentin and Kylie Birt were revealed as the Queensland couple who donated a whopping $40 million to FightMND.
“He’s one extraordinary Australian; it’s a true story. He just did his thing better than all of us put together, that’s all,” Quentin told Sunrise.
“It’s not hard, but it’s very, very hard if you don’t want to do it. You can find an excuse not to do something. He didn’t.
“Money is just a measurement … you do stuff because you love doing it.”
