In a thrilling finish the final siren sounded with the Demons and the Cats locked together at 14.10 (94) apiece, the siren sounding just a second before Geelong's James Bartel forced through what would have been the match-winning behind for his team.
While the draw officially ended the Cats' slim finals hopes - leaving the top eight settled with one round remaining - for the Demons the two points gained from this match means their hopes of finishing in the top four and securing the double chance in the finals remain in their own hands.
Regardless of what happens in other matches, both throughout the rest of round 21 and in next week's final round, Melbourne will finish in the top four as long as it beats second-placed Adelaide at AAMI Stadium next week.
And despite seeing his team throw away a 38-point lead midway through the third term against Geelong on Saturday, that was all that mattered to Daniher after the game.
"It's pretty simple if we win next week (against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium) we finish in the top four," he said. "When we came down here today we were pretty keen to make sure that was still the case."
"At the end of the day a draw is still as good for us as four points (for a win) in the sense our top four aspirations are still in our own hands."
Daniher admitted his team ran out of legs in the second half as the Cats stormed home but said the return of skipper David Neitz - a late withdrawal on Saturday with a minor hip injury and youngster Matthew Bate - would freshen the team up for their huge round 22 clash with the Crows, although defender Matthew Whelan will be doubtful for that match after injuring his hamstring on Saturday.
But he refused to be critical of his team's second half fade-out after the game.
"We are disappointed not to get the win, we played some good footy to be five goals up at half-time but then the (Geelong) crowd got involved and they found an extra leg," Daniher said.
"But I told the boys straight away after the game, the result is the same as a win and let's recover and get ready to take on Adelaide next week."
"In the bigger picture of trying to get into the top four, it is still the same result in that we will get there if we are good enough."
Daniher said in some ways the draw may have even been a better result than a win.
"The reality is the draw is no different to a win, if we had won by seven points it means nothing (extra in terms of securing a top four finish) and instead you might actually a relax a bit but either way we still have to go to Adelaide and win."
While Daniher was upbeat at the result, he did query a second quarter decision not to allow what appeared to be a legitimate goal to Mark Jamar, following a goal-line mark.
Instead the boundary umpire overruled the goal umpire with a behind awarded to the Demons instead of a goal after it was ruled that Jamar had originally taken his mark behind the line.
"I hope that boundary umpire got it right when he overruled (the goal umpire)," Daniher said after the game. "I hope he had a good view of it when Jamar played on (and kicked the goal) but I'm sure he did."
