Australia continues Neale’s fight as Big Freeze 12 returns to Seven
Sam Mac, Andy Lee and Dale Thomas among the star-studded lineup to brave the icy plunge
The King’s Birthday holiday will once again host one of the biggest days on the AFL calendar with a group of Australia’s most iconic stars set to make a splash for Big Freeze 12, live and free at 2.00pm AEST on Seven and 7plus Sport.
First introduced in 2015, the Big Freeze has been a crowd-favourite pre-match fixture at the Collingwood v Melbourne King’s Birthday blockbuster, with this year set to be the first without Australian Football legend and FightMND Co-Founder and Patron, Neale Daniher AO following his recent passing.
The King’s Birthday holiday will once again host one of the biggest days on the AFL calendar with a group of Australia’s most iconic stars set to make a splash for Big Freeze 12, live and free at 2.00pm AEST on Seven and 7plus Sport.
First introduced in 2015, the Big Freeze has been a crowd-favourite pre-match fixture at the Collingwood v Melbourne King’s Birthday blockbuster, with this year set to be the first without Australian Football legend and FightMND Co-Founder and Patron, Neale Daniher AO following his recent passing.
Seven’s pre-game coverage will feature a special tribute to the late Neale Daniher AO, paying homage to a revered figure across Australian sport who united the football community and inspired millions of Australians, through his leadership in the fight to raise awareness and vital funding for research through FightMND.
With a special one-hour live broadcast on Seven and 7plus Sport, Australians can tune in to see their favourite stars embrace the Big Freeze tradition by dressing up and taking the icy plunge to raise funds for FightMND.
Sliders will feature Seven’s own Sunrise weather presenter Sam Mac and 7AFL Expert Commentator Dale Thomas, as well as a star-studded list of sliders which includes:
- Australian media personality, Andy Lee
- Governor-General Sam Mostyn, AC
- Melbourne Demons legend, Nathan Jones
- Australian Diamonds Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Jo Weston
- Football social media personality, Dan Gorringe
- Australian freestyle skier and Olympic gold medallist, Cooper Woods
Following the Big Freeze 12 clash on Monday, the nation will farewell Australian icon Neale Daniher AO, with special live coverage of his State Funeral Service at the MCG from 12.00pm AEST on Wednesday, 10 June, nationally on 7plus, and broadcast on Seven locally in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.
7NEWS Melbourne Presenters Peter Mitchell and Rebecca Maddern will host the broadcast on Seven, guiding viewers through the special tribute and reflecting on Daniher’s extraordinary sporting career and enduring legacy post football.
Triple M Melbourne will also broadcast live from the MCG from 12.00pm AEST in tribute to Neale Daniher AO, with live and ad free coverage of the State Funeral Service commencing from 1.00pm AEST available nationwide on LiSTNR.
In another fitting tribute, NRL star Jai Arrow, who recently retired after being diagnosed with MND, will toss the coin in front of over 90,000 fans in the middle of the MCG. The former South Sydney Rabbitohs player is closely involved with FightMND, in what will be another special moment in the already emotional pre-match of the King’s Birthday clash
Seven’s Head of AFL and Sport Innovation, Gary O’Keeffe, said: “Neale’s courage, determination and commitment to finding a cure for ‘The Beast’ inspired all of us, and this year's Big Freeze holds special significance for every Australian, following Neale’s recent passing.
“As we come together at the MCG on King’s Birthday, we encourage footy fans across the country to join us in continuing Neale’s fight in moving towards a future free of MND,” he said.
“Having Rabbitohs star, Jai Arrow toss the coin before the King's Birthday clash is a powerful reminder of what the Big Freeze and represents. Jai's presence is a powerful symbol of the way the sporting community comes together in support of the fight against this disease.
“We’re proud to once again partner with FightMND to deliver every hilarious and heart-warming moment of Big Freeze 12 to viewers across the nation on Seven and 7plus Sport.”
FightMND Chief Executive Officer, Matt Tilley, said: “It’s the only time across the entire sporting calendar where regardless of loyalties, the whole MCG is filled with just one colour - the iconic Big Freeze blue beanie. We’re so excited for TV’s coldest hour, when our icy heroes head down the slide and the whole country gets behind FightMND.
“We really hope to honour Neale this year with fans watching from home ‘filling the G’ virtually with 100,000 digital beanies sold. Together with Channel 7 we got so close last year - surely, we can make it happen this year. Go digital footy fans - you won’t get a warm head...but you will get a warm heart!”
With further remaining sliders to be unveiled in the coming days, football’s #1 commentary team will be on deck at the MCG on Big Freeze 12 day to take viewers behind the scenes as the stars line up for the Big Freeze.
Seven’s team for the King’s Birthday match will be led by Abbey Holmes, Brian Taylor, Hamish McLachlan, Dale Thomas, Nick Riewoldt and Tom Morris. McLachlan will also join Tim Watson, Neale Daniher’s lifelong friend and former teammate, to host the Big Freeze 12 pre-match coverage, while Taylor will call each slider as they take the plunge.
Sunrise weather reporter and Big Freeze 12 slider Sam Mac will be live from the MCG from 5.30am, bringing viewers the latest weather reports, before he tackles the slide and takes the plunge later that day.
Before the Big Freeze action on Monday, footy fans can tune into tonight’s Thursday Night Footy blockbuster, as two finals contenders clash when the Adelaide Crows host the Geelong Cats from Adelaide Oval, live and free from 7.00pm AEST on Seven, 7mate and 7plus Sport.
The following matches will then round out Seven’s AFL Round 13 coverage:
- Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs at the MCG from 7.00pm AEST Friday, on Seven, 7mate and 7plus Sport
- Sydney Swans v St Kilda at the SCG, from 2.30pm AEST Sunday, on Seven, 7mate and 7plus Sport
- King’s Birthday Eve – Essendon v Carlton at the MCG from 7.00pm AEST Sunday night, on Seven, 7mate and 7plus Sport
Fans in NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia can watch every game involving teams from their home states live and free on Seven and 7plus Sport.
Don’t miss out on the fun as FightMND paints the MCG blue with the new Big Freeze 12 beanies and raises much-needed funds for vital research to beat MND.
Fans can also ‘Play on, for Neale’, by grabbing a Digital Beanie online at bigfreeze.com.au for $25 which can be personalised and shared on socials.
Big Freeze 12
Monday, 8 June 2.00pm AEST on Seven and 7plus Sport
