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3 months ago
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AFL legend Neale Daniher's battle with motor neurone disease (MND) took centre stage on Monday for the annual Big Freeze event, in which stars such as Pat Rafter and Sally Pearson took the plunge.
Daniher, who played for Essendon before an illustrious 223-game coaching career with the Demons, was diagnosed with MND in 2013, and he has dedicated his remaining years to raising awareness and money for the disease.
The Big Freeze has become a grand tradition on the annual Queens Birthday clash between the Magpies and Demons, and this year featured stars such as Rafter, Pearson, Meg Lanning and James Brayshaw.
The first slider of the day was Nic Naitanui dressed as Bob Marley (Buffalo Soldier), draped in Jamaican colours and dressed in a Cool Runnings unitard.
Nic Naitanui kicked things off in a Bob Marley-Cool Runnings inspired outfit
Olympic champ Sally Pearson was next off the blocks dressed as Madonna, screaming as she went down the slide.
'She (Madonna) was one of my idols when I was a little girl dreaming of being a pop star,' she said.
James Brayshaw was next to take the plunge dressed as rock star Axl Rose.
'You never told me it would be THAT bad!' he said afterwards sucking in deep breaths.
Olympian Sally Pearson was next on the slide dressed as her idol as a kid, Madonna
James Brayshaw rocked up as the Guns 'N' Roses frontman Axl Rose
Brayshaw was shocked by how cold the water was, saying he didn't expect it to be 'that bad'
Cricket superstar Meg Lanning was next down the slide while dressed as Tina Turner and almost flipping over as she landed in the water.
'I was thinking about how it was going to happen all night last night, but hopefully it went alright,' she said.
Footy legend Joel Selwood was hard to miss wearing a bright pink suit and dressed as Brit musician Robbie Williams.
Selwood said he was more a fan of spas than ice baths, but he still went down the slide in hilarious fashion.
Cricker superstar Meg Lanning was simply the best dressed as Tina Turner
Footy star Erin Philips said she was a huge fan of popstar P!nk and didn't dissapoint
Olympic gold medallist Mack Horton came dressed as Midnight Oil singer Peter Garrett
Jack Riewoldt was next down the slide dressed as as Brandon Flowers from The Killers
Olympic swimming gold medallist Mack Horton was next up dressed as Midnight Oil lead singer Peter Garrett.
Although he's used to cold water, Horton said the ice bath was a bit much and really took his breath away.
Ex-Richmond forward Jack Riewoldt was next down the slide dressed as as Brandon Flowers from The Killers - and his wig flew off as he hit the water.
Footy star Erin Philips was next to take the plunge, coming out in one of the best costumes as popstar P!nk.
'I did request (a trapeze) but we couldn't get it done in time — maybe the next one!' she said.
Pat Rafter put his heart and soul into his AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson look
Rafter lost his wig in the water, but was stoked to be helping a good cause
Perhaps Australia's most-loved athlete Pat Rafter was last, and he came out dressed as AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson with Thunderstruck playing.
'It's all for a great cause - having a bit of fun out here,' said Rafter. 'And we get to top it off with a nice cold ice bath - I need to shower anyway.'
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