In this game last year, Gawn clashed with teammate Steven May after the Demon captain's kick across goal missed badly and doomed them to a one-point loss.
This time, with son Louis on his lap, Gawn sat in the raucous Melbourne changerooms and reflected on a massive day.
Daniher asked him to be a FightMND ambassador more than a decade ago and Gawn was rapt that the first Big Freeze without its inspirational figure went so well.
"We get to play a pretty good game, particularly on King's Birthday for FightMND, even though last year I decided to 'torp' the ball across goal to lose the game," Gawn said. "The energy of the crowd is unrivalled.
"We've all thought over the last little bit, what's going to happen when Neale  goes? What's going to happen to FightMND?
"This week has shown you - the power of the blue beanie today, the power of the sliders, 88,000 (crowd) ... the fundraising during the week.
"That's Neale's legacy. When all is said and done, more is said than done. It's time for us to walk the walk - to steal words off (Hawthorn's) Nick Watson."
Gawn said he came into Monday with a sore shoulder. He was outmarked by Jack Buller early in the last quarter, giving up a crucial goal, but the star Demon played out the game.
The eight-time All Australian ruckman added he hoped to recover in five days to face Essendon, another team with strong Daniher connections.
"I was able to play most of today unassisted. I got a little bit of help late in the game, but it responded really well," Gawn said.
"I probably didn't need a marking contest at full-back as my first contest of the (last) quarter, but it got going.
"I love playing footy, I love playing with this group, I love being at the MCG, and it's a bit of a Neale game again against Essendon, so I will be doing all I can to make sure it gets up.
"Three quarters of bumping into Dan McStay and Darcy Cameron got to me a little bit ... but I was able to bounce back."
Gawn said he looked forward to walking to the MCG in 20 years' time with Louis and explaining why everyone was wearing the distinctive Big Freeze blue beanies.
"There's a bit of talk around the statue or no statue for Neale. Obviously I'd love a statue - he's my hero - but what's better than a statue is the legacy," Gawn said.
As for the game itself, Melbourne overcame a 2-8 record against Collingwood.
"Once the siren goes, it's all about making sure we don't lose to a team we've lost to 15 out of the last 20 times," he said.
"We didn't play not to lose - we played to win.
"That almost cost us - (Jordan) De Goey took a mark on a quick play going the other way. But Kade Chandler took the game on, Kozzy Pickett took the game on, Harry Petty took the game on, all late in that game.
"If De Goey had kicked the goal I would have stomached it well, because we didn't play to lose."
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