An emotional Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has paid tribute to the late Neale Daniher, saying he will never forget the impact he had on his career.

Daniher passed away last Monday after a brave and public 13-year fight against motor neurone disease.

Longmuir was an assistant coach at West Coast when Daniher was the club’s football manager. Daniher also had a big impact on Fremantle given he was an assistant coach when the club was formed.

Longmuir delayed talking about Fremantle’s win over Brisbane at the Gabba on Saturday night so he could open his press conference with a tribute to Daniher.

“Can I start by sending my condolences to the Daniher family on the passing of Neale,” Longmuir said.

“I think it’s been well documented the impact he’s had on our footy club, especially in the early days, when we probably did it at its toughest. To have people like that around to get us off the ground allows us to be where we are now. He also had a big impact on my coaching career.

“He was at West Coast when I was starting as a young coach, and gave me great opportunity. But he also gave me great wisdom, and challenged me in all aspects - as he did with all us young coaches at the time.

“He challenged us to be better coaches, and set a great foundation for not only me as a young coach, but a lot of other young coaches, in particular in that coaching group. My best wishes go out to the family. I fully admire what Neale and the family have done for MND, and raising what they’ve raised.”

The impact Daniher has had on people throughout the league has been clear since his passing. Fremantle ruckman Mason Cox, who won a Neale Daniher Trophy during the traditional Big Freeze game between Collingwood and Melbourne, was in tears after the pre-game tribute.

Longmuir said the way Daniher educated him about coaching had been pivotal to him advancing through the ranks.

“I’ve always had such great respect for everything that Neale has taught me or said to me over the years,” Longmuir said.

“He was so succinct with the messages sometimes that you just couldn’t not take them on board.

“He had a lovable way about him. The country background, his laugh and storytelling, but he also had great wisdom when it came to coaching. We’ve lost a good one.”