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Victorian officials would be shocked to hear about Terry's reluctance to talk on this matter because, as far as they knew, he talks to anyone and everyone about whatever it is they want to talk about. All those within 50 kilometres of Shepparton during the country championships were bound to have had a word with TD.

Daniher's chat marathon began at the championships' first function at the Goulburn Valley Hotel. As he was walking in the door, a punter announced that TD was his hero at Essendon and bailed him up for five minutes. A few steps later, Daniher was bailed up again. This continued for four days. Whenever the Victorian team was about to go into the rooms to prepare for its next match, an official always had to find the coach. Generally he was 100 metres away, chatting to a supporter. One official suggested they should put a GPS on him.

Daniher's only brush with technology during the championships was a walkie-talkie he used to confer with two of his assistants, former Tigers Nathan Bower and Chris Naish, who sat in the grandstand. In one instance, officials had to rush to his aid because the walkie-talkie had died. His habit of keeping his thumb permanently on the talk button had drained the batteries.

Besides talking, Daniher went for a daily run at dawn. And while the Victorian squad took the team bus to Deakin Reserve for its division-one matches, he walked. His hardiness truly came through in the rain that lashed Shepparton during Sunday's final. While most assistants and officials wore the latest in waterproof jackets, he stood on the boundary with no jacket, just a towel around his shoulders. Occasionally, he used it to wipe his spectacles.

Victoria put up a good fight before losing the final to an ACT team that consisted mainly of former Victorians, including the best player of the carnival, ex-Yarram midfielder Griffin Underwood. In the rooms after the match, Daniher sat down his players and gave a comment on every one of them.

His comment to Adam Hunter, a half-back from Dromana, was that he had struggled in the final. Hunter was later named in the All-Australian team. After finishing his round of the room, Daniher asked whether he had forgotten anyone. North Albury centre half-forward Dan Leslie put up his hand.

The coach apologised. Then he commented on Leslie's lion-hearted performance in the final.

Ninety minutes later, when officials approached him to name his best player of the carnival, he regretted that he had not had a chance to think about it. It had been a busy few days.

By Paul Daffey

Article first appeared July 30th, 2008