Cricket legend Justin Langer has headlined a shock squad of Australian celebrities who take the plunge and slide into a freezing ice bath at the MCG for Big Freeze 8.
The event supports the work of inspirational advocate, fighter and former Essendon legend Neale Daniher and Fight MND, the charity he chairs, which has become the largest fundraiser for the fight against motor neuron disease in Australia.
The terminal illness has now taken Daniher’s voice, but he was still on hand to push some of his handpicked personalities down the chute.
The former opening batsman and Australian coach took to the icy waters dressed as Sylvester Stallone’s legendary character, Rocky Balboa.
“When Neale asked me, I couldn’t get here fast enough,” Langer said.
“One of the great gentlemen I’ve met, one of the tough guys I’ve met and it’s a great privilege to be here.
The West Coast board member revealed that he first met Daniher through the Eagles, where he was general manager for six years.
“He’s one of the great people I’ve met, what a great man,” he said.
“He keeps coming back, seeing him up there today was a huge inspiration so it’s a great honor to be here for him.
Langer flew to Melbourne this morning and is returning just hours after slipping.
“I’m flying back in about an hour, but to be at the MCG for Neale I couldn’t have imagined a better way to spend the day.”
It comes after the Sunday Times reported this week that Langer was earmarked by the embattled WA Liberal Party to lead them to the next state election.
Langer has since said he was “flattered” but had no interest in moving into politics after leaving the Australian team following a successful Ashes campaign last summer.
Tennis champion Ash Barty was the other headline act and received the biggest cheer of the day from the packed MCG crowd.
Dressed as Rafiki from The Lion King, the three-time Grand Slam champion described Daniher as an “inspirational man”.
“I’m a kid, I’m an absolute kid, and it turns out they don’t make adult costumes to be Rafiki, so I’m fighting the clientele of a 12-year-old,” she said.
“This is an incredible day, an incredible cause and I’m so proud to be a small part of a celebration that pays tribute to an incredible man.”
It was one of Barty’s first public appearances since her shock retirement from tennis while she was world number one.
Daniher comes from one of the most famous sports families in the country and his brother Terry was the first family member to slide.
Terry, who played 313 games for South Melbourne and Essendon, was flanked by his brother and niece Bec as he went downstairs dressed as Paul Hogan’s iconic character Mick Dundee – complete with hat, knife and inflatable crocodile.
“We haven’t found a cure so keep supporting us ladies and gentlemen and hopefully there’s a cure not too far around the corner.”
It was the second time this weekend that the Daniher brothers took to the grounds’ sacred lawn on Friday night as part of the Bombers’ 150th birthday celebrations.
Former Carlton and Adelaide fan favorite Eddie Betts wowed the MCG in a navy jumper many times, but today he donned a Black Panther costume to hit the slide.
The legendary goalscorer said it was fitting that he play at ‘G.
“I’m a bit nervous to be honest, I’ve avoided ice baths but looking forward to the descent.
“I heard it’s minus one … I like being in the bag, my favorite place is the bag so we’ll see how it goes.”
Australia’s new winter Olympic queen Jakara Anthony is well used to the cold, but even she was quick to jump out of the tub after dressing up as The Hunger Games’ Katniss Everdeen.
TV personalities Bec Maddern, Hamish Blake and Rhonda Birchmore also went down the slide, as did former Melbourne captain David Neitz, who led the club at the side
“I just saw Neale upstairs, I gave him a hug and said, ‘I’m just doing this for you, Neale,'” Maddern said.
Previously, thousands of people wearing the iconic blue beanies marched together from Melbourne CBD to the MCG.