As all 18 AFL mentors prepare to plunge into ice-cold waters on Monday, Sydney Swans coach John Longmire has thrown his full weight of support behind Neale Daniher’s annual Fight MND fundraiser.

Longmire will join all other 17 AFL coaches at the MCG in sliding down a slippery dip into an ice bath for Big Freeze 4, an all-important initiative supporting Daniher and others with MND.

Motor neurone disease is a condition in which degenerating nerves lead to a gradual paralysis of the body, breaking down function of the muscles that enable people to move, speak, breathe and swallow.

Big Freeze 4 will proceed Melbourne’s Queen’s Birthday clash with Collingwood as all coaches take to the Antarctic waters together for the first time.

Longmire said the fight against MND was a highly important cause.

“The least we can do is jump in a bit of cold water as coaches and make gooses of ourselves for half an hour and raise some money,” Longmire said.

“It’s the least we can do for the Daniher family and the cause.

“I’ve been fortunate to have known the Daniher boys for a fair period of time and Neale is one of the great blokes.”

Daniher was diagnosed with MND in 2013 and the average life expectancy from the time of diagnosis is about two and a half years.

But the 57-year-old, who played 82 games for Essendon between 1979 and 1990 before going on to coach Melbourne, has battled the disease with inspirational courage.

He has said time and again he will hang around for as long as his body allows in support of MND awareness, research and fundraising.

Longmire played for North Melbourne but once had the privilege of rooming with Daniher for a State of Origin match.

“I was fortunate to room with him for a State of Origin game back in 1990 when we played here in Sydney,” Longmire said.

“It was the first time the Danihers all played together – for NSW against Victoria it was. All their sisters were there as well and we went out afterwards and had a great night.”

Longmire has been prodded on what he plans to wear for Big Freeze 4 but is playing his cards close to his chest.

“I’m more of a wetsuit man than a speedos or board shorts and I think if I was walking down Bondi in a pair of speedos they’d shut the beach,” Longmire laughed.

“I definitely won’t be wearing speedos or board shorts for the MCG crowd. I don’t think there’s a big enough pair of speedos to fit my backside.”