Former Melbourne captain Garry Lyon has called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to write a "dirty big cheque" for FightMND in honour of Neale Daniher.

And Lyon wants the PM to head down the slide into a pool of iced water at what looms as the most significant Big Freeze event of all in a tribute to Daniher.

The former AFL player and coach died of motor neurone disease (MND) - which he campaigned against for 13 years - on Monday, aged 65.

A huge crowd is expected for the Big Freeze 12, which raises funds for research into MND, at the MCG before the Demons play Collingwood in their traditional King's Birthday blockbuster on June 8.

"It's incumbent upon all of us to make sure we're there and that we continue this fight in the manner that he (Daniher) fought," Lyon said on Fox Footy on Monday night.

"It would be great to have the Prime Minister go down the slide and just write a dirty big cheque for (Fight) MND.

"That would be symbolic ... that would be awesome."

Lyon urged the football community to support FightMND like never before at the match, hopeful of a crowd close to 100,000 fans.

"This is an opportunity for Collingwood people, Melbourne people and anyone else who cares to come along to the MCG and fill that joint to the absolute top," Lyon said.

"This is why he (Daniher) sacrificed his life, to raise money for this.

"The first chance that we're going to get to pay our respects publicly, apart from the state funeral, is to get to that game on the King's Birthday.

"There's a chance to make that one of the more memorable games in recent times. Footy does it well and we'll rally behind this great man."

As we honour Neale's legacy, let's rewind to his finest hour in Essendon colours - cementing one of our most famous wins over the Blues. pic.twitter.com/RmKM4ywX7F— Essendon FC (@essendonfc) May 25, 2026

Lyon, who spent the final two seasons of his playing career under Daniher, joined the chorus of tributes to the man who later became the symbol of the fight against MND.

He fondly recalled a tough-as-nails coach who took charge of the Demons late in 1997 and immediately lifted the wooden spooners to a preliminary final the following year.

"He was a hard-arse ... he was a mean, nasty man, which is exactly what we needed because we'd become a bit soft and we'd been on the bottom of the ladder," Lyon said.

"That resonated with me. I loved it. A few of the young boys probably took a bit of time to come through with it.

"But we went from easily the worst team in the competition - that was his first message to us - to a preliminary final in his first year.

"It was pretty special. He was just ready to coach."

Todd Viney, who was skipper for two years under Daniher before moving with Lyon onto his coaching panel, said "The Reverend" had an aura about him when he first arrived at the Demons.

"He made his mark on the club immediately, taking us to a preliminary final in his first year and a grand final two years later," said Viney, now North Melbourne's football manager.

"Even after he left Melbourne, he remained a revered figure among his former players.

"He was such a positive role model for so many of us - not just footy but life and the challenges it throws at you."

Daniher coached Melbourne in 223 games across 10 seasons, after playing 82 games for Essendon in a career ravaged by injuries.

Bombers president Andrew Welsh said Daniher's legacy would endure.

"Neale will forever be a beloved Bomber and is one of the most remarkable people our game has ever produced," Welsh said.

Melbourne and Essendon players will wear black armbands in Daniher's honour in their matches this weekend.