The Demons coach suddenly has a team that needs fixing.
Always a highlight of the season, the Big Freeze game on Monday against Collingwood at the MCG has taken on far greater significance after Daniher's death last week from motor neuron disease.
This is King's first season as a senior coach and he feels privileged to be in charge of the Dees for such an important occasion.
But Melbourne are coming off a loss to GWS that has rung alarm bells.
"The thing I can do best is just make sure we get back to playing a more efficient brand of footy that has a bit more quality with ball in hand and make the game a bit easier for ourselves," King said before Thursday training.
"Training today, ours is just rediscovering for us, what makes us a hard team to play against.
"For me, it keeps it into perspective a little bit and keeps your eyes low on what's really important.
"We made GWS the most efficient team that's probably played this year. I hadn't seen us use the ball as poorly as what we had ... you end up breaking your own hearts."
Training came a day after Melbourne players and staff joined the Magpies for a gathering at the MCG, where they heard from Daniher's wife Jan and daughter Bec.
"Yesterday with Jan and Bec, that was really special. Even just coming together with Collingwood, it put the whole game into perspective," he said.
"Hearing his wife and daughter speak, how much respect we had for them, how difficult that would have been ... that was huge."
King is mindful that others at Melbourne had strong connections with Daniher, who coached the Demons to the 2000 grand final.
"I feel a little bit uncomfortable ... I don't feel qualified enough to personally speak of Neale," King said.
"So using some people around the club who have better relationships and have spent some quality time with Neale - at the right time, trying to tap into that.
"Just the fact that our younger generation of players know how important and special he was.
"Your experience in footy, on the biggest days, grand finals, finals, big rivalries - this one is a real honour and privilege to be part of."
Demons assistant coach Nathan Jones is one person at the club who knew Daniher well.
"Nathan Jones told a ripper ... thinking he was going OK (after his first season) and Neale told him he was fat and had to get fit," King said.
"I said 'so how did it work out?' - (Jones said) 'I lost five kilos and came second in the time trial when I got back'. Nathan became who he was - captain and champion of our footy club."
Amid the emotional build-up, King is also mindful that his players must have their heads around what will be needed to beat the Magpies.
"We're really just looking forward to putting on a really good show, one, that fits the occasion and, two, makes Neale proud for what he's done for our footy club," he said.
Also on Thursday, Melbourne confirmed forward Luker Kentfield would make his AFL debut on Monday.
Likewise, Mitch Podhajski after the Magpies recruited him last month in the mid-season draff.
Joel Fitzgerald, who went to Melbourne in the draft, starred for the Casey Demons on the weekend in the VFL.
"When anyone dishes up a 39-possession game, (10) clearances - he didn't look out of place at all," King said.
Melbourne have lost Andy Moniz-Wakefield to a season-ending ACL injury, while veteran defender Jake Lever will likely return from concussion.
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